N-induced soil acidification triggers metal stimulation of soil methane oxidation in a temperate steppe ecosystem.

Methane (CH 4) is a potent greenhouse gas, and it is well established that low nitrogen (N) stimulates- and high N suppresses CH 4 oxidation in grassland ecosystems. In this study, we examined the response of CH 4 uptake to long-term (>10 years) multi-level N additions in a temperate steppe of northern China. The N impacts on CH 4 uptake transitioned from positive to negative at the N addition rate of 4 g N m−2 y−1. However, the high-N suppression on CH 4 uptake was partially relieved when the continuous (>10 years) high N inputs (16 g N m−2 y−1 to 64 g N m−2 y−1) caused soil pH drop to < 5.7. Further experiments revealed that continuous high-N inputs acidified soil to pH < 5.7 that released metal ions to stimulate monooxygenase enzyme activity; therefore, the CH 4 oxidation suppression was partially relieved under continuous N loading. Structural equation model results confirmed that metal ions, such as Iron (Fe3+), Manganese (Mn4+), and Copper (Cu) desorbed by soil particles, were negatively correlated with soil pH while positively correlated with CH 4 oxidation under high N inputs. These analyses suggested that continuous high N inputs-induced soil acidification can release previously bounded metal elements that partially alleviated the N suppression on CH 4 uptake. The N-induced soil acidification impacts on CH 4 uptake might play a critical role in global CH 4 cycling and deserve further investigation as external N inputs continue climbing. • N suppression on CH 4 uptake shifted after 10 years of continuous high N addition. • The high-N suppression was partially relieved when N inputs caused soil pH to drop to 5.7. • The N-induced soil acidification released previously bounded metal ions, partially alleviating the N suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]