Stability of soil functioning is closely related to biochemical turnover and microbial recycling of carbon (C) and nutrients. Despite numerous studies aimed on soil organic matter (SOM) formation, accumulation, and decomposition, most of them consider only one direction: formation or decomposition, sorption or mineralization. Consequently, the questions of C turnover and nutrients recycling remain opened.
This session invites contributions to cycles of organic substances in soil, turnover processes and rates, as well as recycling of nutrients and soil organic matter compounds by microorganisms. We appreciate studies focused on turnover mechanisms of fast and slow cycling pools, as well as on substances preferably reutilized by bacteria and fungi. Investigations based on an application of isotope labeling (e.g. 13C, 14C, 15N, 33P, 18O), as well as pools dating approaches are very welcome. Soil and environmental controls of turnover and recycling rates are of a special interest.