Data on respiration, substrate incorporation, and soil compound concentration in response to simulated root exudation

In this study we used reverse microdialysis to release a mixture of 13C-labeled substrates into intact meadow and forest soil cores (6-hour long) to simulate root exudation. We utilized three different artificial root exudates: sugars (glucose, fructose), organic acids (acetate, succinate), and a combination of sugars and organic acids (glucose, fructose, acetate, succinate); alongside a water-only control for comparison.

We collected compounds from soil solutions and measured respiration. Due to 13C-labeled substrate we could differentiate between substrate-derived respiration and SOM-derived respiration. Additionally, we extracted lipid fatty acids from soil and measured their 13C incorporation.