Articles | Volume 23, issue 21
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-8017-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-8017-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Dynamics of inorganic nitrogen cycling, redox conditions, and microbial community composition in a floodplain soil induced by a heavy rainfall after summer drought
Johanna Schlögl
Environmental Mineralogy, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94–96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Clemens Karwautz
Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
Lena Cramaro
Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
Wolfgang Wanek
Division of Terrestrial Ecosystem Research, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Center of Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
Judith Prommer
Division of Terrestrial Ecosystem Research, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Center of Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
Theresa Böckle
Division of Terrestrial Ecosystem Research, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Center of Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
Andreas Kappler
Geomicrobiology, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94–96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Stefan B. Haderlein
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Environmental Mineralogy, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstraße 94–96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Christian Griebler
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
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Cleavage of proteins to smaller nitrogen compounds allows microorganisms and plants to exploit the largest nitrogen reservoir in soils and is considered the bottleneck in soil organic nitrogen cycling. Results from soils covering a European transect show that protein turnover is constrained by soil geochemistry, shifts in climate and associated alterations in soil weathering and should be considered as a driver of soil nitrogen availability with repercussions on carbon cycle processes.
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Short summary
Climate change enhances the occurrence of summer droughts and heavy rainfall events in Central Europe. We investigated the response of inorganic nitrogen cycling, redox conditions and microbial community composition to an artificial heavy rain event following a drought in shallow arable soil. Redox conditions changed fast with the hydraulic event triggering nitrogen transport and turnover. Microbial communities remained rather stable in terms of composition but exhibited enzyme activity changes.
Climate change enhances the occurrence of summer droughts and heavy rainfall events in Central...
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