Response of microbial activity to labile C addition in sandy soil from semi-arid woodland is influenced by vegetation patch and wildfire

Abstract

Nutrient cycling in semi-arid woodlands is likely to be influenced by patchy vegetation, wildfire and the supply of easily available organic C, e.g. root exudates. The study assessed the effect of wildfire and vegetation patch on response of microbial activity to labile C addition in soil from a semi-arid Eucalyptus woodland. Two sites were studied: one unburnt and the other exposed to wildfire four-month before sampling. Top soil (0 – 30 cm) from under trees, under shrubs or in open areas from each site was air-dried and sieved to < 2 mm. The soils were incubated at 80% of maximum water holding capacity for 24 days without or with addition of 5 g C kg-1 as glucose. Soil organic carbon (TOC), microbial biomass C, N and P availability and cumulative respiration were greater under trees than in open areas. Fire decreased TOC and cumulative respiration only under trees and had little effect on available N, microbial biomass C and P concentrations. The greater increase in cumulative respiration by glucose addition under shrubs and in open areas compared to under trees and, in a given patch, greater in burnt than unburnt soils, indicate lower availability of native organic carbon.