Organic carbon and nitrogen mineralization under Mediterranean climatic conditions: The effects of incubation depth

• Published in: Soil biology & biochemistry Vol. 29; no. 9; pp. 1509 - 1520
• Main Authors: Rovira, P., Vallejo, V.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.09.1997; New York, NY Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Organic matter; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Soil science; Southern Europe; Europe; Spain; Organic carbon; Eucalyptus globulus; Decomposition; Forest soil; Depth; Climatic condition; Soil climate; Luvisols; Organic matter cycle; Mineralization; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Softwood forest tree; Gymnospermae; Myrtaceae; Hardwood forest tree; Pinus halepensis; Alfisols; Quercus ilex; Fagaceae; Carbon cycle; Nitrogen cycle; Soil horizons; Coniferales; Spermatophyta; Mediterranean climate

In a soil profile, temperature and humidity regimes change with depth. Under Mediterranean conditions, upper horizons are more affected by water deficits and drying-rewetting cycles than deep horizons. Our aim was to study how carbon and nitrogen mineralization are affected by depth, and special att...