Impact of common sample pre-treatments on key soil microbial properties

Data and R scripts to the associated open access publication in Soil Biology and Biochemistry.

Based on five different paired sites (each with cropland and forest), the effects of six common pre-treatments were evaluated on 18O-CUE and associated parameters, i.e. respiration rate, soil microbial biomass C, total DNA extracted, and estimated abundances of fungi, bacteria and archaea. The six common pre-treatments were: (i) immediate analysis of field-fresh soil samples, and analysis following 14 d pre-incubation of soil samples that were (ii) field-fresh, (iii) air-dried, (iv) oven-dried (40 °C), (v) frozen at -20°C and (vi) frozen in situ (dry ice and subsequently liquid N2).

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