title: Lack of correlation between turnover of low-molecular-weight dissolved organic carbon and differences in microbial community composition or growth across a soil pH gradient.
abstract: We studied how soil pH (pHs 4 to 8) influenced the mineralization of low-molecular-weight (LMW)-dissolved organic carbon (DOC) compounds, and how this compared with differences in microbial community structure. The mineralization of LMW-DOC compounds was not systematically connected to differences in soil pH, consistent with soil respiration. In contrast, the microbial community compositions differed dramatically. This suggests that microbial community composition data will be of limited use in improving the predictive power of soil C models.
authors.affiliation: Environment Centre Wales, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, United Kingdom. j.rousk@bangor.ac.uk
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rousk
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Brookes
authors.forename: Helen C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Glanville
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D017753:Ecosystem; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012987:Soil