Soil organic carbon is significantly associated with the pore geometry, microbial diversity and enzyme activity of the macro-aggregates under different land uses

Microbial activity strongly influences the stabilization of soil organic matter (SOM), and is affected by the abiotic properties within soil aggregates, which tend to differ between land uses. Here, we assessed the effects of SOM and pore geometry on the diversity and activity of microbial communities within aggregates formed under different land uses (undisturbed, plantation, pasture, and cropping). X-ray micro-computed tomography (mu CT) revealed that macro-aggregates (2-8 mm) of undisturbed soils were porous, highly-connected, and had 200% more macro-pores compared with those from pasture and cropping soils. While the macro-aggregates of undisturbed soils had greater soil organic carbon (SOC) contents and N-acetyl 13-glucosaminidase, 13-glucosidase, and phosphatase activities, those of cropped soils harboured more diverse bacterial communities. Organic carbon was positively associated with the porosity of the macro-aggregates, which was negatively associated with microbial diversity and positively associated with enzyme activity. Thus, the biophysical processes in macro-aggregates may be important for SOC stabilization within the macro-aggregates. Crown Copyright (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study suggests that soil organic matter and pore geometry have significant impacts on the diversity and activity of microbial communities under different land uses. Undisturbed soils have more porous and active macro-aggregates, while cropped soils harbor more diverse bacterial communities.