Canopy nitrogen deposition enhances soil ecosystem multifunctionality in a temperate forest

Nitrogen (N) deposition affects ecosystem functions crucial to human health and well-being. However, the consequences of this scenario for soil ecosystem multifunctionality (SMF) in forests are poorly understood. Here, we conducted a long-term field experiment in a temperate forest in China, where N deposition was simulated by adding N above and under the canopies. We discover that canopy N addition promotes SMF expression, whereas understory N addition suppresses it. SMF was regulated by fungal diversity in canopy N addition treatments, which is largely due to the strong resistance to soil acidification and efficient resource utilization characteristics of fungi. While in understory N addition treatments, SMF is regulated by bacterial diversity, which is mainly because of the strong resilience to disturbances and fast turnover of bacteria. Furthermore, rare microbial taxa may play a more important role in the maintenance of the SMF. This study provides the first evidence that N deposition enhanced SMF in temperate forests and enriches the knowledge on enhanced N deposition affecting forest ecosystems. Given the divergent results from two N addition approaches, an innovative perspective of canopy N addition on soil microbial diversity-multifunctionality relationships is crucial to policy-making for the conservation of soil microbial diversity and sustainable ecosystem management under enhanced N deposition. In future research, the consideration of canopy N processes is essential for more realistic assessments of the effects of atmospheric N deposition in forests. Nitrogen deposition affects forest soil multifunctionality differently based on canopy or understory addition. Canopy N promotes multifunctionality via fungal diversity, while understory N suppresses it via bacterial diversity. Rare microbial taxa may be vital for maintaining multifunctionality. Understanding canopy N processes is crucial for realistic assessments and policy-making in managing forest ecosystems under enhanced N deposition.image