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Schmidt, B.H.M.* ; Kalbitz, K.* ; Braun, S.* ; Fuß, R. ; McDowell, W.H.* ; Matzner, E.*

Microbial immobilization and mineralization of dissolved organic nitrogen from forest floors.

Soil Biol. Biochem. 43, 1742-1745 (2011)
DOI
Open Access Green as soon as Postprint is submitted to ZB.
Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) plays a key role in the N cycle of many ecosystems, as DON availability and biodegradation are important for plant growth, microbial metabolism and N transport in soils. However, biodegradation of DON (defined as the sum of mineralization and microbial immobilization) is only poorly understood. In laboratory incubations, biodegradation of DON and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from Oi and Oa horizons of spruce, beech and cypress forests ranged from 6 to 72%. Biodegradation of DON and DOC was similar in most samples, and mineralization of DON was more important than microbial immobilization. Nitrate additions (0-10 mg N L(-1)) never influenced either DON immobilization by microorganisms or mineralization. We conclude that soil microorganisms do not necessarily prefer mineral N over DON for meeting their N demand, and that biodegradation of DON seems to be driven by the microbial demand for C rather than N. Quantifying the dynamics of DON in soils should include consideration of both C and N demands by microbes.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Corresponding Author
Keywords Dissolved organic nitrogen; Dissolved organic carbon; Nitrate; Biodegradation; Mineralization; Microbial immobilization
ISSN (print) / ISBN 0038-0717
e-ISSN 1879-3428
Quellenangaben Volume: 43, Issue: 8, Pages: 1742-1745 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher Elsevier
Publishing Place Amsterdam
Non-patent literature Publications
Reviewing status Peer reviewed