Rapid changes in carbon and phosphorus after rewetting of dry soil

Abstract

Drying-rewetting (DRW) cycles are important for soil organic matter turnover; however, few studies have considered the short-term effects on nutrient availability. The pulses in soil respiration, extractable C, P and N pools were quantified after a single DRW cycle (ten sampling times over 49 h). Soil was pre-incubated with or without glucose (2. 5 g kg-1) for 10 days to induce differences in the size and activity of the microflora and then either subjected to a single DRW cycle (7-day drying period) or kept constantly moist. A resin extractable P (Presin) method was used and compared to extraction of dissolved organic (DOP) and inorganic P (DIP) with a salt solution. The pulse in soil respi..