Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.109717
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Experimental access to cellulose oxidation and the dynamics of microbial carbon and energy use in artificial soil under varying temperature, water content, and C/N ratio
Author Yang, S. ORCID logo ; Rupp, A.; Kästner, M.; Harms, H.; Miltner, A. ORCID logo ; Maskow, T. ORCID logo
Source Titel Soil Biology & Biochemistry
Year 2025
Department MIBITECH; AME; MEB
Volume 203
Page From art. 109717
Language englisch
Topic T7 Bioeconomy
Supplements https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0038071725000094-mmc1.docx
Keywords Energy use efficiency; Carbon use efficiency; Calorimetry; Thermodynamics; Environmental conditions; Respirometry
Abstract Soil is one of the most important natural carbon (C) sinks, alongside its many other critical functions. The ratio of C incorporated into biomass over C consumption from a given substrate is defined as carbon use efficiency (CUE). CUE depends on environmental conditions. However, the conservation of energy (E) within the soil system, quantified as energy use efficiency (EUE), has not yet been studied although it must be related to CUE. To study the effects of environmental conditions on degradation of cellulose in the absence of the background of soil organic matter (SOM), we utilized artificial soil to analyse the impact of different conditions on CUE and EUE. We quantified CO2 evolution rate (CER), and heat production rate (Pm), cellulose degradation, at three water contents (WC) (10%, 14.4% and 19%), two C/N ratios (9 and 18), and two temperatures (7  and 20 ). Environmental conditions significantly influenced the primary parameters such as CER, Pm, and cellulose degradation rate while the derived parameters CUE and EUE were less sensitive. Among the studied factors, WC had the least influence on ultimate CUE and EUE. Conversely, a decrease in nitrogen (N) supply and temperature tended to increase CUE without significantly affecting EUE. The variation in CUE and EUE suggests alterations in the stoichiometry of the microbial growth reaction. A deeper understanding of these metabolic processes is crucial for elucidating metabolic mechanisms under specific environmental conditions.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=29781
Yang, S., Rupp, A., Kästner, M., Harms, H., Miltner, A., Maskow, T. (2025):
Experimental access to cellulose oxidation and the dynamics of microbial carbon and energy use in artificial soil under varying temperature, water content, and C/N ratio
Soil Biol. Biochem. 203 , art. 109717 10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.109717