Communications Earth & Environment (May 2022)

Microbial necromass carbon and nitrogen persistence are decoupled in agricultural grassland soils

  • Kate M. Buckeridge,
  • Kelly E. Mason,
  • Nick Ostle,
  • Niall P. McNamara,
  • Helen K. Grant,
  • Jeanette Whitaker

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-022-00439-0
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Different mineralization rates between plant litter and microbial necromass do not necessarily imply differences in carbon persistence, and necromass carbon is less persistent than nitrogen, according to inoculation experiments with grassland soils under high- and low-management intensity.