Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

Could microbes be the architects of improved soil structure under Miscanthus x giganteus?

This study identifies microbial taxa associated with improved soil structure under Miscanthus x giganteus and shows greater microbial network complexity in perennial plants compared to annual maize.

Reduced precipitation alters microbial availability and uptake of grassland rhizosphere carbon

The paper shows reduced precipitation increases microbial uptake and processing of rhizodeposit carbon near roots in grasslands, altering carbon cycling without plant stress.

Resource acquisition is more sensitive than carbon storage in soil microorganisms under climate extremes

This study examines how soil microorganisms allocate resources during drought and warming, finding that resource acquisition is more sensitive than carbon storage to climate extremes.

Soil microbiome predator diversity outperforms nitrogen addition in boosting plant biomass via bacterial community shifts

The paper shows that increasing soil microbiome predator diversity boosts Cannabis sativa biomass more than nitrogen addition, by altering bacterial communities and nutrient cycling functions.

Hierarchical control of bacterial growth efficiency by substrate and taxonomy

This study measures growth efficiency in 23 bacterial strains across two substrates, showing it is hierarchically controlled by substrate identity and taxonomy.

Mineral dust stimulates microbial exoenzyme activity and enhances carbon mineralization capabilities in nutrient-poor peat soil

This study shows that mineral dust enhances microbial carbon mineralization in surface peat soil but has limited effects in deeper layers.

Microbial communities in tropical soils are highly resilient to fluctuating redox conditions

This study examines how fluctuating redox conditions affect microbial communities and carbon cycling in tropical soils, finding that microbial communities adapt to dynamic redox conditions and distinct carbon compounds are cycled under varying redox regimes.

Drought duration does not impact soil microbiome resilience

This study compares microbial community responses to short-term and long-term drought in soil, finding that prolonged drought alters microbial composition and organic matter profiles, with rewetting not restoring pre-drought conditions.

Top predators in soil food webs increase carbon cycling efficiency

This study shows that top predators in soil food webs increase carbon cycling efficiency by altering microbial communities and reducing heterotrophic respiration.

Microbial carbon metabolism is linked to organic matter chemistry across soil systems

The paper links microbial carbon metabolism to organic matter chemistry across 33 Chilean temperate grassland soils using stable isotope probing and mass spectrometry.

An experimental model system to investigate microscale mechanisms behind the soil priming effect

This paper introduces a microfluidic model system to study soil microbial responses to labile substrate pulses, observing concentration-dependent decomposition and microbial behavior.

Beyond efficacy: Persistence and off-target effects of three biological nitrification inhibitors in two contrasting agricultural soils

This study evaluates three biological nitrification inhibitors in two soils, finding that MBOA is the most effective with minimal off-target effects and greatest persistence.

Using BONCAT-FACS to probe the active soil microbial community during nitrous oxide production

This study uses BONCAT-FACS-Seq to identify active microbial taxa driving nitrous oxide production in soil, showing that N2O fluxes result from ensembles of microorganisms rather than single taxa.

Testing the Diffusion Limitation Hypothesis for Declining Methane Uptake in Forest Soils

This study tests the diffusion limitation hypothesis for declining methane uptake in forest soils using long-term flux data and finds it insufficient to explain multi-decadal declines.

Potential of exogenous biological nitrification inhibitor addition to improve soil nitrogen availability for crop growth.

This study evaluates the effects of exogenous biological nitrification inhibitors on barley growth, soil nitrogen dynamics, and microbial communities in an alkaline agricultural soil.

Microbial community composition, but not diversity, influence microbial necromass mineralization

The study shows that microbial community composition, not diversity, influences necromass mineralization, with specific microbes driving ammonification and nitrification.

Biochar reduces soil thermal conductivity, diffusivity and volumetric heat storage: A global meta-analysis

This paper shows biochar consistently reduces soil thermal conductivity, diffusivity, and volumetric heat capacity through structural changes, with implications for soil temperature and carbon modeling.

Rapid assessment of nitrification inhibitor efficacy, competitiveness, and specificity using microrespirometry

This paper introduces a microrespirometry-based workflow to rapidly assess nitrification inhibitors' efficacy, competitiveness, and specificity using oxygen consumption as a real-time readout.

Long-term P fertilization influences microbial carbon use efficiency and soil organic matter decomposition in non-allophanic Andosols.

This study investigates how long-term phosphorus fertilization affects microbial carbon use efficiency and soil organic matter decomposition in non-allophanic Andosols, finding that P levels influence priming effects and CUE.

Artificial soil systems: A tool for investigating microbial life strategy effects on substrate mineralization

This study uses an artificial soil system to show how r- and K-strategist bacteria affect glucose mineralization, with B. subtilis showing rapid respiration and S. cinnamoneus slower respiration.

Plant litter decomposition in global drylands is better predicted by precipitation seasonality and temperature than by aridity

Lake floodplains as sinks for stable soil organic carbon: is the carbon plant- or microbe-derived, and why does permanent land use matter?

The paper examines how land use affects soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in floodplains, finding that permanent meadows and forests maximize SOC, while microbial inputs dominate stable SOC.

Common nitrification inhibitors exhibit varied physiological mechanisms on an ammonia-oxidizing microorganism

This study investigates how two nitrification inhibitors affect ammonia-oxidizing archaea, revealing distinct physiological mechanisms.

A natural soil-derived microbiota reshapes nitrogen form and plant mineral nutrition

The paper shows that a natural soil microbiota controls nitrogen form and plant mineral nutrition by modulating nitrification and nutrient availability.

The response of leaf litter bacterial communities to simulated drought depends on temperature

The study shows that bacterial community responses to drought in grassland leaf litter are more influenced by background temperature than precipitation, with long-term variability outweighing experimental drought effects.

Who and how much? Quantifying the role of trophic guilds in soil organic carbon mineralization

The paper quantifies how trophic guilds influence soil organic carbon mineralization under warming by integrating sequencing and biomass conversion factors in a field experiment.

Plant litter chemistry and associated changes in microbial decomposition under drought

This study examines how a decade-long drought affects plant litter chemistry and microbial decomposition in a semi-arid ecosystem, finding minimal direct effects on decomposition rates but significant changes in microbial community composition and function.

Previous legume identity influence wheat rhizosphere microbial communities and grain protein content

This study shows that growing faba beans before wheat increases soil ammonium and wheat grain protein content without changing microbial enzymatic activity or community composition.

Low quality evidence dominates discussion of carbon benefits of alternative grazing strategies

This study reviews and analyzes the impact of alternative grazing strategies on soil organic carbon, finding no significant changes in high-quality studies but potential gains in lower-quality ones.

Reduced legacy precipitation decreases microbial community growth efficiency and alters soil organic carbon in a California grassland

This study shows that reduced winter precipitation lowers microbial growth efficiency and shifts soil organic carbon composition in a California grassland.