Microbial growth efficiencies across a soil moisture gradient assessed using 13C-acetic acid vapor and 15N-ammonia gas

• Published in: Soil biology & biochemistry Vol. 41; no. 6; pp. 1262 - 1269
• Main Authors: Herron, Patrick M., Stark, John M., Holt, Carson, Hooker, Toby, Cardon, Zoe G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; ammonia; Biochemistry and biology; Biological and medical sciences; carbon; carbon sequestration; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gas emissions; greenhouse gases; Growth efficiency; immobilization in soil; Isotope dilution; microbial growth; N immobilization; N mineralization; nitrogen; nutrients; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; soil analysis; soil ecology; soil microorganisms; Soil science; soil water content; stable isotopes; Substrate-use efficiency; vapors; Substrate-use efficiency; Isotope dilution; N immobilization; Growth efficiency; N mineralization; Acetic acid; Vapor; Gradient; Microorganism growth; Isotope labelling; Soil moisture; Immobilization; Substrate; Ammonia; Nitrogen cycle; C-13; Mineralization; Nitrogen-15; Soil science

One integrative measurement of microbial activity in soils is the efficiency by which microbes convert assimilated carbon (C) into biomass C. This efficiency, called the microbial growth efficiency ( Y), is a key physiological characteristic that regulates soil carbon sequestration, nutrient immobil...