Quality attributes microbial control

Detrital processing can be thought of as a continuum from fresh litter to stabilized SOM (Agren and Bosatta, 2002). At different stages in this continuum, the relative importance of each of these environmental and biological factors that have been identified as controlhng decomposition dynamics will likely vary. The initial stages of mass loss are characteristically most affected by climate, resource quality, and, when abundant, soil macrofauna. The physical soil environment also needs to be considered as an important control on the turnover of more humified SOM in the mineral horizons. It is also evident from this literature review that observed correlations between decay rates and decomposition factors are often attributable to both the direct effects of that factor on microbial metabolism and to the indirect interactions with other factors. 

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