Soil microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE), defined as the ratio of organic C allocated to growth over organic C taken up, strongly affects soil carbon (C) cycling. Despite the importance of the microbial CUE for the terrestrial C cycle, very little is known about how it is affected by nutrient availability. Therefore, we studied microbial CUE and microbial biomass turnover time in soils of a long-term fertilization experiment in a temperate grassland comprising five treatments (control, PK, NK, NP, NPK). Microbial CUE and the turnover of microbial biomass were determined using a novel substrate-independent method based on incorporation of 18O from labeled water into microbial DNA. Microbial respiration was 28-37% smaller in all three N treatments (NK, NP, and NPK) compared to the control, whereas the PK treatment did not affect microbial respiration. N-fertilization decreased microbial C uptake, while the microbial growth rate was not affected. Microbial CUE ranged between 0.31 and 0.45, and was 1.3- to 1.4-fold higher in the N-fertilized soils than in the control. The turnover time ranged between 80 and 113 days and was not significantly affected by fertilization. Net primary production (NPP) and the abundance of legumes differed strongly across the treatments, and the fungal:bacterial ratio was very low in all treatments. Structural equation modeling revealed that microbial CUE was exclusively controlled by N fertilization and that neither the abundance of legumes (as a proxy for the quality of the organic matter inputs) nor NPP (as a proxy for C inputs) had an effect on microbial CUE. Our results show that N fertilization did not only decrease microbial respiration, but also microbial C uptake, indicating that less C was intracellularly processed in the N fertilized soils. The reason for reduced C uptake and increased CUE in the N-fertilization treatments is likely an inhibition of oxidative enzymes involved in the degradation of aromatic compounds by N in combination with a reduced energy requirement for microbial N acquisition in the fertilized soils. In conclusion, the study shows that N availability can control soil C cycling by affecting microbial CUE, while plant community-mediated changes in organic matter inputs and P and K availability played no important role for C partitioning of the microbial community in this temperate grassland.
", "keywords": ["FUNGAL", "2. Zero hunger", "106022 Mikrobiologie", "Nitrogen addition", "BACTERIAL", "NITROGEN DEPOSITION", "GROWTH EFFICIENCY", "FOREST FLOOR", "Nutrients", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Stoichiometry", "ORGANIC-MATTER", "RESPIRATION", "106026 \u00d6kosystemforschung", "13. Climate action", "Nutrient limitation", "Microbial growth yield", "106022 Microbiology", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Mean residence time", "STOICHIOMETRIC CONTROLS", "ENZYME-ACTIVITY", "106026 Ecosystem research", "COMMUNITY STRUCTURE"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.03.008"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20Biology%20and%20Biochemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.03.008", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.03.008", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.03.008"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2016-06-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.05.004", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-04T16:17:13Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2016-05-17", "title": "Gasification Biochar Has Limited Effects On Functional And Structural Diversity Of Soil Microbial Communities In A Temperate Agroecosystem", "description": "Abstract Biochar may enhance soil fertility and carbon (C) sequestration but there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of its effects on soil microbial communities and functioning. This study tested the differential effects of two doses (6\u20138 and 0.8\u20131.4\u00a0t\u00a0ha \u22121 for High and Low doses, respectively) of wheat straw gasification biochar (GBC) and fresh straw incorporated as soil amendments into an agricultural field in Denmark. Soils were analysed three months after the amendments for pH, total organic matter, microbial biomass (ATP), ten enzymatic activities, catabolic potential by substrate-induced respiration (MicroResp\u2122), soil toxicity test (BioTox\u2122) and bacterial community structure (Illumina 16S rRNA gene sequencing). No significant effect of biochar treatment was observed regarding ATP content, catabolic community profiles and soil toxicity. The higher dose of GBC increased phenol oxidase activity and soil pH, and decreased the cellulase activity. No major effect of high dose GBC was observed on the soil community diversity, and only minor effect on the community composition, with an increase in the relative abundance of a single OTU associated with Acidobacteria_Gp16 . Addition of low dose of GBC caused an increase in the relative abundance of the rare members in the microbial communities thus increasing the diversity of soil microorganisms. A comparable effect was observed with the addition of fresh straw. Overall, our results indicated that GBC as soil amendment had a limited effect on the functional and structural diversity of soil microbial communities in a Danish temperate agroecosystem.", "keywords": ["Carbon sequestration", "2. Zero hunger", "16S Illumina sequencing", "Microbial activity", "MicroResp", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Toxicity test", "16S Illumina sequencing; Acidobacteria; Carbon sequestration; Microbial activity; MicroResp; Toxicity test; Soil Science; Microbiology", "Acidobacteria"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.05.004"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20Biology%20and%20Biochemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.05.004", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.05.004", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.05.004"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2016-08-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.07.016", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-04T16:17:13Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2016-07-26", "title": "Increased N2o Emissions During Soil Drying After Waterlogging And Spring Thaw In A Record Wet Year", "description": "Global climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events, which can dramatically alter soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. However, our ability to predict this effect is limited due to the lack of studies under real-world conditions. We conducted a field experiment in a maize-cultivated black soil in northeast China with six treatments: control without nitrogen (N) application (CK) and N-fertilized treatments with the ratio of urea N to manure N at 100:0 (NPK), 75:25 (OM1), 50:50 (OM2), 25:75 (OM3) and 0:100 (OM4). The experimental year was the wettest on record with an extreme rainfall event of 178\u00a0mm occurring in summer 2013. Annual N2O emissions from CK and NPK were increased by 168% and 171%, respectively, relative to normal wet years. Extreme rainfall saturated soils, resulted in low N2O fluxes ( 3\u00a0mg\u00a0N\u00a0kg\u22121 and water-filled pore space was 67\u201376%. Distinctly higher N2O fluxes were also identified during the spring thaw period, accumulating to 20.1\u201349.4% of the non-growing season emissions. Emissions upon thawing were likely related to denitrification induced by high moisture conditions as a result of lag effect of the extreme rainfall. Annual N2O emissions progressively reduced as the ratio of urea N:manure N shifted towards manure, which was also the case during soil drying after waterlogging. Total N2O emissions were reduced by 25.6% for OM4 than NPK. Overall, our results suggest that soil N2O emissions were increased in the record wet year but a shift from urea towards manure with more N applied as starter N can minimize the N2O losses.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "13. Climate action", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "6. Clean water"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.07.016"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20Biology%20and%20Biochemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.07.016", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.07.016", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.07.016"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2016-10-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.07.023", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-04T16:17:13Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2016-08-03", "title": "Response Of Microbial Functional Groups Involved In Soil N Cycle To N, P And Np Fertilization In Tibetan Alpine Meadows", "description": "The nitrogen (N) cycle is an important part of earth's biogeochemical cycles and N is a critical element for all life. Whereas the response to N - and more rarely phosphorus, P - fertilization of some microbial groups involved in soil N cycling has been studied, a comprehensive view of how the major microbial groups involved in soil N dynamics respond to combined N and P fertilization is lacking, which restricts our understanding of ecosystem responses to fertilization. Here we investigated the effects of different N, P and NP fertilizer levels (4 N levels without P; 4 P levels without N; and 4 P levels with constant N addition) on the abundances of 9 microbial groups involved in N dynamics. Real time PCR was used to target free N2 fixers, nitrifiers (bacterial and archaea ammonia oxidizers, AOB and AOA, respectively; and the nitrite oxidizers Nitrobacter and Nitrospira), nitrate reducers, nirK- and nirS-nitrite reducers, and nitrous oxide reducers. Soil physical-chemical characteristics and potential nitrification, PNR, were also measured. N fertilization increased the abundances of AOB and Nitrobacter but did not affect the abundances of the other groups. P fertilization decreased the abundances of N2 fixers, nitrate reducers and AOA, and increased the abundances of Nitrobacter and nitrous oxide reducers. NP fertilization decreased the abundances of AOA and nirK-nitrite reducers. Using a correlation network analysis, we demonstrate the strong coupling generally observed in these grasslands between N2 fixers, AOA, Nitrospira, narG-nitrate reducers and nirK-denitrifiers (most of them responding to N/P availability, and being known to be favored by low oxygen availability); and between AOB and Nitrobacter (known to be favored by high oxygen and high N levels) that controlled changes in PNR. The observed (de)coupling between the responses of the different microbial groups may have major consequences for N cycling and N losses from fertilized Tibetan alpine meadows.", "keywords": ["580", "2. Zero hunger", "0301 basic medicine", "Nitrogen", "[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]", "Phosphorus", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Nitrifiers", "15. Life on land", "6. Clean water", "3. Good health", "[SDV] Life Sciences [q-bio]", "03 medical and health sciences", "Grassland soil", "N-2 fixers", "13. Climate action", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Denitrifiers"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.07.023"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20Biology%20and%20Biochemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.07.023", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.07.023", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.07.023"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2016-10-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.09.017", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-04T16:17:13Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2016-09-29", "title": "Response of terrestrial carbon dynamics to snow cover change: A meta-analysis of experimental manipulation (II)", "keywords": ["0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "01 natural sciences", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.09.017"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20Biology%20and%20Biochemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.09.017", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.09.017", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.09.017"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2016-12-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.10.016", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-04T16:17:13Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2016-11-01", "title": "Repeated Application Of Organic Waste Affects Soil Organic Matter Composition: Evidence From Thermal Analysis, Ftir-Pas, Amino Sugars And Lignin Biomarkers", "description": "Land application of organic waste is an important alternative to landfilling and incineration because it helps restore soil fertility and has environmental and agronomic benefits. These benefits may be related to the biochemical composition of the waste, which can result in the accumulation of different types of carbon compounds in soil. The objective of this study was to identify and characterise changes in soil organic matter (SOM) composition after repeated applications of organic waste. Soil from the CRUCIAL field experiment in Denmark was sampled after 12 years of annual application of household waste compost, cattle manure and sewage sludge, and was compared to a control treatment that had received NPK fertilisation. Soils were characterised using CO2-evolved gas analysis (CO2-EGA) during ramped thermal analysis, mid-infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS) and analysis of amino-sugar and lignin phenols. SOM from the compost and cattle manure treatments had greater thermal stability than the sludge and NPK treatments, which was consistent with the thermal stability of the applied wastes. Compost-amended soils and manure-amended soils also had a greater lignin content with a lower degree of oxidation and a greater contribution of bacterial amino sugars relative to fungal amino sugars compared to soils from the NPK treatment. The high soil C accumulation rate combined with low amino sugar C in SOM from the compost treatment suggested less stimulation of microbial activity, while the cattle manure seemed to result in both microbial stimulation and accumulation of thermally stable forms of C. FTIR-PAS revealed greater C=O vibration of carboxylic groups and amides in sludge and NPK treatments, indicating more oxidised SOM and the presence of proteins. Taken together, these results show that there was accumulation in soil of different C compounds for the different types of applied organic waste, which appeared to be related to the degree to which microbial activity was stimulated and the type of microbial communities applied with the wastes or associated with the decomposition of applied wastes. This in turn may have important effects on ecosystem functioning and long-term soil C storage.", "keywords": ["MIRS", "2. Zero hunger", "Soil organic matter", "13. Climate action", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "CO-EGA", "6. Clean water", "Elemental analyses", "Organic amendments", "Photoacoustic spectroscopy", "12. Responsible consumption"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.10.016"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20Biology%20and%20Biochemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.10.016", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.10.016", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.10.016"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.02.004", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "Closed Access", "updated": "2026-04-04T16:17:13Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2017-02-17", "title": "Effect Of Agricultural Management On N2o Emissions In The Brazilian Sugarcane Yield", "description": "The expansion of sugarcane cultivation in Brazil for sugar and bioethanol production has led to increased N-fertilizer use. Today, sugarcane is harvested mechanically and resulting crop residues are retained as a mulch on the soil surface. We hypothesized that the combination of these activities (topdressing N-fertilization applied on the mulching) promotes soil conditions that modify the microbiota involved in the soil N cycle, and consequently raise N2O emissions. We investigated a commercial sugarcane crop to determine whether a topdressing of N-fertilizer (100\u00a0kg\u00a0N\u00a0ha\u22121 as ammonium nitrate) combined with sugarcane straw mulch (14\u00a0Mg\u00a0ha\u22121 dry mass) change soil attributes (pH, total C and N, microbial biomass C and N, inorganic-N and WFPS%), and the copy numbers of genes (nirS, nirK, norB and nosZ) involved in soil N-transformation with consequent increases in N2O emissions. The 3\u00a0\u00d7\u00a02 factorial treatments were: three soil surface treatments: i) bare soil (no-straw); ii) sugarcane straw and, iii) synthetic straw (polypropylene strips) and with or without an application of N-fertilizer. The mulch treatments (sugarcane or synthetic) produced the highest emissions, which occurred at two \u2018N2O hot moments\u2019 within 10 days after fertilization. Regarding fertilizer treatments, cumulative N2O emissions did not differ between the straw treatments (\u223c99\u00a0mg\u00a0m\u22122) but were higher than those of the no-straw treatments (51\u00a0mg\u00a0m\u22122). Similar behavior was found in the no-fertilizer treatments where the highest emissions were found in the straw treatments (\u223c30\u00a0mg\u00a0m\u22122) and lowest in the no-straw treatments (6\u00a0mg\u00a0m\u22122). The copy numbers of the nirS, nirK, norB and nosZ genes were equal in the straw treatments, but were significantly lower in the no-straw. While high copy numbers of the norB gene were associated with the \u2018N2O hot moments,\u2019 the same was not observed for the other genes. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that N2O emissions were higher in relation to microbial biomass and WFPS% than they were in relation to the norB gene and inorganic-N. Our findings show that N-fertilization combined with sugarcane-straw mulching raised N2O emissions by promoting a chain of interactions between soil attributes and microorganisms involved in N-transformation.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "13. Climate action", "15. Life on land"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.02.004"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20Biology%20and%20Biochemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.02.004", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.02.004", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.02.004"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-06-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.05.028", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-04T16:17:13Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2017-06-07", "title": "N fertilization in a Mediterranean ecosystem alters N and P turnover in soil, roots and the ectomycorrhizal community", "description": "Abstract Increased anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition is a major contributor to alteration of soil nutrient cycles particularly in nutrient poor ecosystems, such as the Mediterranean basin, where co-limitation of N and phosphorus (P) occurs and N addition might thus lead to an exacerbation of P limitation. Here, we measured the effect of medium term (6 years) N fertilization in different forms and doses (40\u00a0kg\u00a0N ha\u22121 yr\u22121 as 1:1 NH4Cl and (NH4)2SO4; 40 and 80\u00a0kg\u00a0N ha\u22121 yr\u22121 as NH4NO3) on nutrient stoichiometry, potential turnover rates and abundance of roots, ectomycorrhizal (ECM) root tips and adjacent soil in Cistus ladanifer L. In order to assess the impact of N addition at its most extreme point, we sampled roots and topsoil (10\u00a0cm) with and without plant influence in the summer months. We analysed N and P concentrations in soil and roots and determined the abundance of the most dominant mycorrhizal root tip morphotypes. We also assessed nutrient turnover in soil, roots and mycorrhizal root tips by measuring their N and C related enzyme activities (EAs) as well as acid phosphatase (AP) activity. Results showed decreased soil Pinorg and increased soil N:Pinorg in the treatment plots. Also, a decline in Cenococcum geophilum in N addition plots was found and a general reduction in ECM colonization in the treatment receiving ammonium without nitrate. We also detected a decrease of C.\u00a0geophilum absolute EA and AP, as well as N related EA in the whole soil compartment. Furthermore, we observed lower root AP activity and found a loss of correlation between N related EA and AP activity in all treatments, while a high correlation between N related EA and C related EA persisted in all plots. EA was also generally negatively related with root P/soil P, which we used as a measure for plant P status. The negative effect of ammonium on the ECM community of C.\u00a0ladanifer and a putative loss of short distance exploration morphotypes, such as C.\u00a0geophilum, together with decreased AP activity in the plant roots, might be connected with low Pinorg availability in soil with plant influence, thus being in line with the hypothesis of P depletion due to N addition. Furthermore, the decrease of N related EA in the soil compartment, as well as the decoupling of N and P cycles, might be signs of altered soil microbial communities. This decoupling, together with the strong dependence of EA on plant P status, could point to a shift from N and P scavenging ECM communities to more copiotrophic saprophytic fungi that rely on C and N acquisition from soil organic matter rather than plant C inputs. We posit that a decline in root colonization by ECM fungi and changes in N:P cycling could be detrimental to ecosystem development, as C.\u00a0ladanifer is a common ECM species in early successional stages, providing a host for ECM fungi that also colonize late-successional plants.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "0106 biological sciences", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "6. Clean water"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.05.028"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20Biology%20and%20Biochemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.05.028", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.05.028", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.05.028"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-10-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.07.021", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-04T16:17:13Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2016-08-11", "title": "Biochar effects on methane emissions from soils: A meta-analysis", "description": "Methane (CH4) emissions have increased by more than 150% since 1750, with agriculture being the major source. Further increases are predicted as permafrost regions start thawing, and rice and ruminant animal production expand. Biochar is posited to increase crop productivity while mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon in soils and by influencing greenhouse gas fluxes. There is a growing understanding of biochar effects on carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide fluxes from soil. However, little is known regarding the effects on net methane exchange, with single studies often reporting contradictory results. Here we aim to reconcile the disparate effects of biochar application to soil in agricultural systems on CH4 fluxes into a single interpretive framework by quantitative meta-analysis. This study shows that biochar has the potential to mitigate CH4 emissions from soils, particularly from flooded (i.e. paddy) fields (Hedge's d = \u22120.87) and/or acidic soils (Hedge's d = \u22121.56) where periods of flooding are part of the management regime. Conversely, addition of biochar to soils that do not have periods of flooding (Hedge's d = 0.65), in particular when neutral or alkaline (Hedge's d = 1.17 and 0.44, respectively), may have the potential to decrease the CH4 sink strength of those soils. Global methane fluxes are net positive as rice cultivation is a much larger source of CH4 than the sink contribution of upland soils. Therefore, this meta-study reveals that biochar use may have the potential to reduce atmospheric CH4 emissions from agricultural flooded soils on a global scale.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Standardised mean difference", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Greenhouse gas", "01 natural sciences", "6. Clean water", "Biochar", "Meta-analysis", "Soil", "13. Climate action", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Methane", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.07.021"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20Biology%20and%20Biochemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.07.021", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.07.021", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.07.021"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2016-10-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.08.024", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-04T16:17:13Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2016-08-28", "title": "Soil Microbial Community Resistance To Drought And Links To C Stabilization In An Australian Grassland", "description": "Abstract Drought is predicted to increase in many areas of the world, which can greatly influence soil microbial community structure and C stabilization. Increasing soil carbon (C) stabilization is an important strategy to mitigate climate change effects, but the underlying processes promoting C stabilization are still unclear. Microbes are an important contributor of C stabilization through the adsorption of microbial-derived compounds on organo-mineral complexes. Management practices, such as addition of organic amendments might increase soil C stock and mitigate drought impacts, especially in agro-ecosystems where large losses of C have been reported. Here, we conducted a drought experiment where we tested whether the addition of organic amendments mitigates drought effects on soil C stabilization and its links to microbial community changes. In a semi-natural grassland system of eastern Australia, we combined a management treatment (compost vs. inorganic fertilizer addition) and a drought treatment using rainout shelters (half vs. ambient precipitation). We measured soil moisture, soil nitrogen and phosphorus, particulate organic C (Pom-C) and organo-mineral C (Min-C). Microbial community composition and biomass were assessed with PLFA analyses. A structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was used to examine the controls of soil moisture, Pom-C and nutrients on soil microbial biomass and community structure and changes in Min-C. Overall, the drought treatment did not affect microbial community structure and Min-C, while fertilizer only marginally increased Min-C, highlighting the resistance to these treatments in this grassland soil. In the surface soil (0\u20135\u00a0cm) Min-C was strongly associated with fungi that may have been stimulated by root exudates, and by gram-negative bacteria in the deep soil (5\u201315\u00a0cm) that were more affected by Pom-C and soil moisture. . We conclude that the grassland microbial community and its effect on Min-C at our field-site were non-responsive to our drought treatment, but sensitive to variability in soil moisture and microbial community structure. Our findings also show that surface compost application can moderately increase soil C stabilization under drought, representing a useful tool for improving soil C stability.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "550", "grassland ecology", "droughts", "carbon", "grasslands", "Australia", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Soil biogeochemistry; Ecology", "15. Life on land", "soil microbiology", "6. Clean water", "13. Climate action", "XXXXXX - Unknown", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.08.024"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20Biology%20and%20Biochemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.08.024", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.08.024", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.08.024"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2016-12-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.10.014", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-04T16:17:13Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2016-10-24", "title": "Interactions Between Biochar And Litter Priming: A Three-Source C-14 And Delta C-13 Partitioning Study", "description": "Abstract Although it has been separately reported that biochar primes the decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) or fresh organic matter, little is known about the simultaneous effects of biochar on SOM versus plant litter mineralization. We applied dual 13 C/ 14 C isotopic labels to partition soil CO 2 efflux and C pools into three sources: SOM, litter and biochar. Biochar made by slow pyrolysis (400\u00a0\u00b0C) of 14 C labeled residues of rice ( Oryza sativa , C3) and maize ( Zea mays , C4) litter were added separately or in combination to a silty Fluvisol with a C3 isotopic signature and incubated at 25\u00a0\u00b0C over a period of 6 months. Biochar decomposition was very slow, with a mean rate of 0.017% d \u22121 . Approximately 63% of biochar-derived CO 2 was produced in the first month. Mixing with litter reduced biochar mineralization by 14%. Addition of biochar alone to soil induced a cumulative positive priming effect (0.24\u00a0mg\u00a0C\u00a0g \u22121 soil) on SOM decomposition over 183 days, a much smaller effect than litter-induced priming (1.05\u00a0mg CO 2 -C g \u22121 soil). Compared to soils with only litter amended, biochar and litter added in combination decreased SOM mineralization by 19% while increasing litter mineralization by 6.9%, with no net changes in total CO 2 release. Increased litter- but not SOM-derived C in microbial biomass in the presence of biochar suggested that biochar caused preferential microbial utilization of litter over SOM. Given that immobilization of mineral N in the soil-litter mixture was markedly enhanced following the addition of biochar, we proposed that the biochar-induced preferential microbial utilization of litter over SOM was due primarily to alterations in N cycling. In conclusion, the priming effects of litter on SOM are changed by the presence of biochar.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "6. Clean water"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.10.014"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20Biology%20and%20Biochemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.10.014", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.10.014", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.10.014"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.01.020", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-04T16:17:13Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2017-02-13", "title": "Altered soil carbon and nitrogen cycles due to the freeze-thaw effect: A meta-analysis", "description": "Global climate change may result in changes in snow cover, which may enhance freeze-thaw phenomena in mid and high latitude and high elevation ecosystems, especially in the northern hemisphere, in the future. As a common non-biological stress, the freeze-thaw process can substantially alter soil carbon and nitrogen cycles. However, a comprehensive understanding of nutrient pools and dynamics in response to freeze-thaw cycles is not available. Here, we evaluated the effect sizes of the responses of 18 variables related to soil carbon and nitrogen cycles to the freeze-thaw effect from 46 papers. Seventeen studies that reported field observations and 28 studies that reported results from laboratory experiments were included, as well as one paper that used both methods to explore freeze-thaw processes. We used a random-effects model to examine whether soil origins, effect phases (including initial and long-term effects), methods and soil horizons affect the magnitudes of the responses to freeze-thaw events. The soil sources include forest, shrubland, grassland/meadow, cropland, tundra and wetland. We used meta-regression to explore possible relationships among effect sizes with freezing temperature, soil pH, soil C/N ratios and other factors. Our results suggest that the freeze-thaw process causes microbial N and the microbial C/N ratio to decrease by 12.2% and 8.5%, respectively. Soil solution dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) are enhanced by 27.5% and 37.3%, respectively. The freeze-thaw effect increases the concentrations of NH4+, NO3\u2212 and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) by 84.1%, 29.6% and 35.4%, respectively. N2O emissions are also increased by 95.0% in freeze-thaw treatments. Laboratory measurements resulted in contrasting responses in terms of mineralization, nitrification and respiration. Freeze-thaw events promote turnover of fine roots but have no effect on the long-term aboveground biomass of grassland and heath. The results of this meta-analysis help to achieve a better understanding of the overall effects of freeze-thaw events on soil carbon and nitrogen cycles and their modulation across different environments.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "13. Climate action", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.01.020"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20Biology%20and%20Biochemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.01.020", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.01.020", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.01.020"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-06-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.04.016", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-04T16:17:13Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2017-04-29", "title": "Soil Macrofauna Abundance Under Dominant Tree Species Increases Along A Soil Degradation Gradient", "description": "Abstract Soil macrofauna contribute to key soil functions underpinning soil-mediated ecosystem services. There is limited understanding about the role of trees as \u2018resource islands\u2019 for soil macrofauna in agricultural landscapes and how this interaction is affected by soil degradation status. The study assessed the spatial influence of three dominant trees namely, Croton megalocarpus , Eucalyptus grandis and Zanthoxylum gilletii , on soil macrofauna abundance, along a soil degradation gradient resulting from continuous cultivation for 10, 16 and 62 years. It was hypothesised that spatial variation in soil macrofauna abundance is affected by duration of cultivation, tree species and distance from the tree trunk. Soils cultivated for 10 years showed highest soil nutrient levels. Notably, soil C and N were higher below the canopy of C.\u00a0megalocarpus (64.6\u00a0g\u00a0kg \u22121 C; 6.7\u00a0g\u00a0kg \u22121 N), than E.\u00a0grandis (58.7\u00a0g\u00a0kg \u22121 C; 5.9\u00a0g\u00a0kg \u22121 N) and Z.\u00a0gilletii (54.5\u00a0g\u00a0kg \u22121 C; 5.6\u00a0g\u00a0kg \u22121 N) after 10 years of cultivation. Similar trends were also found after 16 and 62 years of cultivation, although the mean values for the two elements were below 40.0\u00a0g\u00a0kg \u22121 and 4.0\u00a0g\u00a0kg \u22121 , respectively. Higher soil macrofauna abundance was found after 16 and 62 years of cultivation, though this was dependent on tree species and soil macrofauna group. Earthworm abundance was highest below the canopy of Z.\u00a0gilletii averaging 389 individuals and 160 individuals m \u22122 , respectively, compared to 14 individuals m \u22122 after 10 years of cultivation. Conversely, beetles showed higher numbers under E.\u00a0grandis and C.\u00a0megalocarpus than under Z.\u00a0gilletii . Highest numbers of termites and centipedes were found under E.\u00a0grandis after 16 years of cultivation. These findings support the importance of a diverse tree cover in agricultural landscapes to conserve soil macrofauna communities and the contribution of their activity to soil ecological functions.", "keywords": ["Eucalyptus grandis", "570", "Spatial variation", "Croton megalocarpus", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Zanthoxylum gilletii", "15. Life on land", "Organic resource quality", "Soil biodiversity"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.04.016"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20Biology%20and%20Biochemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.04.016", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.04.016", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.04.016"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-09-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.07.015", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-04T16:17:13Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2017-09-11", "title": "Indications That Long-Term Nitrogen Loading Limits Carbon Resources For Soil Microbes", "description": "Abstract Microbial communities in the organic horizon (O-horizon) of forest soils play key roles in terrestrial nitrogen (N) cycling, but effects on them of long-term high N loading, by N deposition or experimental addition, are not fully understood. Thus, we investigated N-loading effects on soil microbial biomass N, carbon (C) and phosphorus stoichiometry, hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes, community composition (via phospholipid fatty acids, PLFA) and soil chemistry of the O-horizon in study plots of three well-studied experimental Norway spruce (Picea abies) forests in Sweden and the Czech Republic. These forests span substantial gradients in current N deposition, experimental N addition and nitrate (NO3\u2212) leaching. Current N deposition ranges from \u223c3\u00a0kg\u00a0ha\u22121 year\u22121 of N in central Sweden (Strasan) to \u223c15\u00a0kg\u00a0ha\u22121 year\u22121 of N in SW Sweden (Skogaby) and Czech Republic (Certovo). Furthermore, accumulated historical N loading during 1950\u20132000 (which include experimental N addition performed at Strasan and Skogaby) ranged \u223c200\u2013\u223c2000\u00a0kg\u00a0ha\u22121 of N. Across all sites and treatments, current NO3\u2212 leaching ranged from low (\u223c0.1\u00a0kg\u00a0ha\u22121 year\u22121 of N) at Strasan, to high (\u223c15\u00a0kg\u00a0ha\u22121 year\u22121 of N) at Skogaby and Certovo. We found significantly lower C/N ratios and greater amounts of extractable inorganic N species in the forest soils\u2019 O-horizons at the high N loading plots. Microbial biomass and basal respiration decreased under experimental N addition treatments and tended to decrease with increased N deposition. Similarly, activities of hydrolytic enzyme activity associated with N acquisition were lower, although differences in activities at specific sites with the highest and intermediate historical N deposition levels failed statistical significance. Conversely, activities of soil hydrolytic enzymes associated with C acquisition were greater in study plots exposed high N loading. PLFA profiles indicated shifts in microbial community composition induced by long-term N load, towards higher and lower relative abundance of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively (but no changes in fungal relative abundance). Taken together, our results suggest that long-term N loading of N-limited Norway spruce forests aggravates limitation of other resources, likely of C, for soil microbial communities. Although microbial variables in the soil O-horizon differed between plots exposed to low and high current N loading, microbial variables in plots that leached small amounts and large amounts of NO3\u2212 exposed to high N load were similar.", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "2. Zero hunger", "13. Climate action", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.07.015"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20Biology%20and%20Biochemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.07.015", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.07.015", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.07.015"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-12-01T00:00:00Z"}}], "links": [{"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "This document as GeoJSON", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=F&offset=5400&f=json", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "alternate", "type": "text/html", "title": "This document as HTML", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=F&offset=5400&f=html", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection URL", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"type": "application/geo+json", "rel": "prev", "title": "items (prev)", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=F&offset=5350", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "next", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "items (next)", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=F&offset=5450", "hreflang": "en-US"}], "numberMatched": 23932, "numberReturned": 50, "distributedFeatures": [], "timeStamp": "2026-04-05T06:36:09.207761Z"}