Influence of freeze-thaw stress on the structure and function of microbial communities and denitrifying populations in soil.

ABSTRACT: Microbial N2O release during the course of thawing of soil was investigated in model experiment focusing on denitrification, since freeze-thaw has been shown to cause significant physical and biological changes in soil, including a surge of N2O and CO2. The origin of these is still controversially discussed. The increase in denitrification after thawing may be attributed to the diffusion of organic substrates newly available to denitrifiers from disrupted soil aggregates, leading to an increase in microbial activity. Laboratory experiments with upper soil layer of a grassland were conducted in microcosms for real-time gas measurements during the entire phase of freeze and thaw. Shifts in microbial communities were evident on resolution of 16S and 18S rRNA genes and transcripts by denaturin

SUBMITTER: Sharma S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1393215 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature