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Assessment of Labile Organic Carbon in Soil Using Sequential Fumigation Incubation Procedures
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Microbial efficiency drives depth-dependent soil carbon storage under organic fertilization.

Wentao Zhang1, Yingxin Lu1, Leanne Peixoto2

  • 1College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

Journal of Environmental Management
|February 20, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Organic manure boosts soil organic carbon (SOC) storage by enhancing microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) and necromass formation. This effect is more pronounced in deeper soil layers, turning them into significant SOC sinks.

Keywords:
Carbon use efficiencyMicrobial growthMicrobial necromassOrganic fertilizationSoil C sequestration

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Area of Science:

  • Soil Science
  • Microbiology
  • Biogeochemistry

Background:

  • Microbial activity and turnover are key drivers of soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation.
  • The impact of fertilization on SOC storage across soil depths, mediated by microbial life-death cycles, lacks mechanistic understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how long-term fertilization, specifically organic manure, affects microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) and soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation at different soil depths.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which microbial necromass contributes to SOC storage under various fertilization regimes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of soil samples from a 45-year long-term fertilization experiment (Control, NPK, Manure, NPK+Manure).
  • Measurement of microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) using H218O labeling.
  • Quantification of microbial necromass using amino sugar analysis.
  • Assessment of soil properties including Fe oxides and Ca2+ content.

Main Results:

  • Organic manure (M and NPKM) significantly increased microbial growth and CUE in surface soils by improving nutrient balance and soil structure.
  • Manure application led to higher microbial necromass yield in surface soils compared to mineral fertilization (NPK).
  • Microbial biomass, necromass, and CUE decreased with soil depth, but manure-enriched elements stabilized necromass, increasing its contribution to SOC in deep soils (74-76%) versus surface soils (34-43%).

Conclusions:

  • Improving microbial CUE, particularly with organic manure, enhances SOC sequestration by promoting the formation of persistent, microbially-derived organic matter.
  • Organic manure application transforms subsoils into dominant SOC sinks by stabilizing microbial necromass.
  • Fertilization strategies should consider microbial processes and soil depth for effective SOC management.