Plant residue chemical quality modulates the soil microbial response related to decomposition and soil organic carbon and nitrogen stabilization in a rainfed Mediterranean agroecosystem

Soils play a major role in the global carbon cycle and are crucial to management of climate change. Changes plant cover derived from different agricultural practices induce variations quality residue inputs soil microbial community structure activity, which may enhance storage protection organic (OC) nitrogen (N) within aggregates. The aim this study was assess how differences chemical composition residues combination with tillage affect local activity structure, subsequent aggregation OC N dynamics an organic, rainfed almond (Prunus dulcis Mill.) orchard. In laboratory, three types (shoots, roots, both) coming species belonging each practice (reduced tillage, reduced plus green manure, no-tillage) were mixed their respective soils CO2 released measured over 243 days at 60% WHC 28 °C. Water-stable aggregates (including microaggregates macroaggregates), enzymatic activities related (dehydrogenase β-glucosidase) (urease) cycling, biomass through phospholipid fatty acid analysis, end incubation period. Our results indicate that controls response, mediating decomposition incorporation stable Therefore, labile N-rich into by is recommended since mixing roots shoots manure increased formation free micro-aggregates improved stabilization our semiarid agroecosystem.