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Microbial regulation of organic matter decomposition at the regional scale
Project
Project code: DFG FOR 1695
Contract period: 01.02.2012
- 31.05.2018
Purpose of research: Basic research
The fate of soil organic carbon (SOC) is one of the largest uncertainties in predicting future climate and terrestrial ecosystem function. The aim of the new proposal is to improve carbon turnover models (e.g., RothC, DAISY) by adding microbial mechanisms. We will sample soils from two regions (Swabian Alb, Kraichgau); within each region we will choose a chronosequence from fallow (four, three and one year(s)) to planted sites because they span a range of carbon storage conditions from low available C storage to intermediate available C storage, and high available C storage. First, we will analyse activities of ß-glucosidase (targeting low molecular weight substrate), xylanase (targeting high molecular weight substrate) and phenoloxidase (targeting high molecular weight, recalcitrant substrate) of soils as well as moisture and temperature patterns (at daily resolution) to model the seasonal pattern of in situ enzyme potential. In another part of the project, we will focus on temperature sensitivity of specific groups of soil microorganisms using biomarker (PLFA, ergosterol) and molecular tools (taxa-specific real time PCR) and temperature sensitivity of soil microbial processes (respiration, enzymes involved in C cycling). Our data will be used to include growth behaviour of microbial key drivers and component specific temperature sensitivities in carbon modelling (e.g., RothC, DAISY) to elucidate landscape-level variations in temperature sensitivity of soil organic matter decomposition.
Section overview
Subjects
- Soil science
- Climate Change
