How Important Is Microbial Biodiversity in Controlling the Mineralization of Soil Organic Matter?

摘要：

　　Nearly all soil organic matter is extensively humified,with some fractions existing for more than 1,000 years.Soil microorganisms are surrounded by about 50 times their mass of soil organic matter,but can only metabolise it very slowly (‘basal mineralisation rate).Here we show that the rate-limiting step in soil organic matter mineralization is independent of microbial biomass size,community structure or activity.We suggest that the rate limiting step is governed by abiological processes (the ‘Regulatory Gate Hypothesis).This has significant implications for our understanding of carbon mineralisation in soils and the role of soil microorganisms in the global carbon cycle.

关键词： Soil organic matter mineralization Regulatory gate Microbial diversity Microbial biomass

作者: Phil Brookes Sarah Kemmitt

作者单位: Sustainable Soils and Grassland Systems,Rothamsted Research,Harpenden,Herts AL5 2JQ UK FSA,London,El4 5HS

会议类型: 国际会议

会议名称: the 16th Meeting of the International Humic Substances Society (第十六届国际腐殖物质学会大会(IHSS 16))

会议地点: 杭州

会议语种:英文

页码: 457-459

在线出版日期: 2012-09-09（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）