# Effects of Microbial Inoculants on Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Stoichiometry of Soil Aggregates

## TL;DR

This study shows how microbial inoculants affect soil nutrients and stability, especially when plants are present or absent over time.

## Contribution

The study reveals how specific microbial inoculants influence soil aggregate stability and nutrient stoichiometry over time and under plant presence.

## Key findings

- NL-11 and NL-15 increased macroaggregate proportions and stability under 3-year plant-present conditions.
- NL-15 elevated organic carbon and nitrogen in aggregates under 3-year no-plant conditions.
- Inoculants altered microbial biomass and enzyme activities, promoting C–N–P stoichiometry recovery.

## Abstract

Functional microbial inoculation is widely applied in soil restoration; however, its effects on aggregate-scale nutrient cycling remain unclear. Based on ecological stoichiometry theory, we conducted 1-year and 3-year pot experiments using Bacillus thuringiensis (NL-11) and Gongronella butleri (NL-15) under plant-present and plant-absent conditions, with only NL-11 applied in the 1-year experiment. Aggregate size distribution, mean weight diameter (MWD), soil nutrients, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities were evaluated across aggregate classes. The results demonstrated that microbial effects were dependent on both time and plant presence. Under 3-year plant-present conditions, NL-11 and NL-15 significantly increased macroaggregate proportions and MWD, thereby enhancing aggregate stability. Under 3-year no-plant conditions, NL-15 increased organic carbon and total nitrogen in macro- and meso-aggregates by 55–59% and elevated soil C/P and N/P ratios, whereas NL-11 primarily enhanced total nitrogen. In 1-year no-plant macroaggregates, NL-11 increased microbial biomass phosphorus and reduced microbial biomass C/P and N/P ratios. Both inoculants enhanced invertase activity under plant-absent conditions, whereas plant presence stimulated acid phosphatase activity, with NAG activity increasing only under NL-15. Overall, microbial inoculation altered nutrient availability and microbial metabolic characteristics, promoted coordinated C–N–P stoichiometry, and facilitated the recovery of aggregate-scale nutrient cycling.