Effects of glucose, cellulose, and humic acids on soil microbial eco-physiology

Microbial eco-physiology in soils is regulated by substrate quality of the organic matter. This regulation was studied for a forest and an agricultural soil by the combination of activity and biomass techniques. Soil respiration was stimulated by the substrate quality in the order, humic acid < cellulose < glucose over 20 days. Concurrently, substrate addition increased the respiratory quotient (RQ), defined as the ratio of mol CO2 evolution per mol O-2 uptake. Anabolic processes were mainly induced by glucose addition. Soil preconditioned with glucose showed a decrease in the RQ value during glucose-induced microbial growth in comparison to non-amended control. The decrease in the RQ value induced by preconditioning with cellulose and humic acid was lower. Glucose, cellulose, and humic acid addition modified the microbial biomass as estimated by fumigation-extraction (FE), substrate-induced respiration (SIR), and ATP content. Since each biomass estimate refers to specific microbial components, shifts in microbial eco-physiology and community structure induced by substrate quality were reflected by SIR : FE and SIR : ATP ratios. The active and glucose-responsive biomass in the forest soil which was earlier suggested as being dominated by K-strategists was increased in the order, humic acid < cellulose < glucose.