Extracellular enzyme stoichiometry reveals the carbon and phosphorus limitations of microbial metabolisms in the rhizosphere and bulk soils in alpine ecosystems

Aims Alpine ecosystems are important terrestrial carbon (C) pools, and microbial decomposers play a key role in cycling soil C. Microbial metabolic limitations in these ecosystems, however, have rarely been studied. The objectives of this study are to reveal the characteristics of microbial nutrient limitation, and decipher the drivers in the alpine ecosystems.