Priming Effects and Beyond: Microbial Interactions, Soil Organic Matter Turnover, and Global Changes

The input of fresh organic matter, and the induced priming effect (PE), has long been recognized as a critical regulator of soil organic matter (SOM) turnover, yet its mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The proposed microbial mechanisms for PE at least include competition between r- and K-strategists following external C inputs, co-metabolism of freshly added and native soil organic matter, the N-mining hypothesis, and stoichiometric decomposition. Such microbial processes may interact with soil physical and chemical C stabilization mechanisms, which in turn are linked to various soil fractions such as aggregates versus free mineral particles, old versus young organic matter, and labile versus recalcitrant pools with distinct C/N ratios. Necromass formation and accumulation, one of the most important pathway of SOM stabilization, may be also changed by fresh C inputs and PE. In addition, all these microbial processes and their interaction with soil C stabilization may be altered by global changes, such as the climate warming and increasing N deposition/fertilization. Traditional investigations often focus on singular aspects, leaving a fragmented understanding of microbially driven PE in complex interactions with soil organo-mineral fractions and environmental factors. It is time to revisit the microbial drivers of PE through an integrative lens.

This Research Topic aims to advance our understanding of general processes controlling SOM turnover under fresh organic matter inputs, with a particular focus on PE and related mechanisms that link soil C mineralization, microbial interactions, and global change factors. Under the ongoing global changes, an improved and integrated understanding of PE mechanisms is crucial to better project the fate of soil C stored on Earth, which is ultimately driven by labile C inputs and PE processes.

We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives that address, including but not limited to, the following integrative themes:
(1) Microbial dynamics/succession and their interactions (competition, cooperation, cross-feeding, predation, etc.) following labile C inputs, and how these processes relate to SOM turnover.
(2) Relationships between PE, SOM formation (e.g. necromass accumulation), and the persistence of different soil carbon pools with varying recalcitrance and C/N/P stoichiometric characteristics
(3) How global change factors, for example, nitrogen deposition, warming, and drought, reshape the interactions between PE, microbial communities, and SOM formation/ persistence, and how these may feedback to future global changes.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: priming Effects, soil carbon stabilization, warming, N deposition, r- and K-strategists

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.