Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 28, 1997
Publication Date: N/A
Technical Abstract: Soil microbial activity is known to be influenced by water potential. Surface soils of the Southern Piedmont that were once sandy have been variably replaced during years of erosion with the underlying clayey horizons. We have been conducting a soil restoration study of previously-cultivated, highly-eroded land with the implementation of various pasture management strategies. Our objective was to determine the consequences of using water-filled pore space (WFPS), rather than water potential, in the estimation of potential carbon and nitrogen mineralization from 15 surface soils varying in clay content from 8 to 32%. When choosing a single level for optimum mineralization of all soils, WFPS was preferable to water potential. However, the optimum WFPS was greater for C mineralization than for N mineralization.