Microbial respiration, but not biomass, responded linearly to increasing light fraction organic matter input: Consequences for carbon sequestration.

ABSTRACT: Rebuilding 'lost' soil carbon (C) is a priority in mitigating climate change and underpinning key soil functions that support ecosystem services. Microorganisms determine if fresh C input is converted into stable soil organic matter (SOM) or lost as CO₂. Here we quantified if microbial biomass and respiration responded positively to addition of light fraction organic matter (LFOM, representing recent inputs of plant residue) in an infertile semi-arid agricultural soil. Field trial soil with different historical plant residue inputs [soil C content: control (tilled) = 9.6 t C ha^-1 versus tilled + plant residue treatment (tilled + OM) = 18.0 t C ha^-1] were incubated in the laboratory with a gradient of LFOM equivalent to 0 to 3.8 t C ha^-1 (0 to 500

SUBMITTER: Rui Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5067501 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature