Stimulation of r- vs. K-selected microorganisms by elevated atmospheric CO2 depends on soil aggregate size

Increased root exudation under elevated atmospheric CO₂ and the contrasting environments in soil macro- and microaggregates could affect microbial growth strategies. We investigated the effect of elevated CO₂ on the contribution of fast- ( r -strategists) and slow-growing ( K -strategists) microorganisms in soil macro- and microaggregates. We fractionated the bulk soil from the ambient and elevated (for 5 years) CO₂ treatments of FACE-Hohenheim (Stuttgart) into large macro- (>2 mm), small macro- (0.25–2.00 mm), and microaggregates (<0.25 mm) using 'optimal moist' sieving. Microbial biomass (C_mic), the maximum specific growth rate (μ), growing microbial biomass (GMB) and lag-period ( t _lag) were estimated by the kinetics of CO₂ emission from bulk soil and aggregates amended with glucose and nutrients. Although C_org and C_mic were unaffected by elevated CO₂, μ values were significantly higher under elevated than ambient CO₂ for bulk soil, small macroaggregates, and microaggregates. Substrate-induced respiratory response increased with decreasing aggregate size under both CO₂ treatments. Based on changes in μ, GMB and lag period, we conclude that elevated atmospheric CO₂ stimulated the r- selected microorganisms, especially in soil microaggregates. Such an increase in r -selected microorganisms indicates acceleration of available C mineralization in soil, which may counterbalance the additional C input by roots in soils in a future elevated atmospheric CO₂ environment.     

Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on soil microbiota in calcareous grassland

Microbial responses to three years of CO₂ enrichment (600 μL L^–1) in the field were investigated in calcareous grassland. Microbial biomass carbon (C) and soil organic C and nitrogen (N) were not significantly influenced by elevated CO₂. Microbial C:N ratios significantly decreased under elevated CO₂ (– 15%, P = 0.01) and microbial N increased by + 18% (P = 0.04). Soil basal respiration was significantly increased on one out of 7 sampling dates (+ 14%, P = 0.03; December of the third year of treatment), whereas the metabolic quotient for CO₂ (qCO₂ = basal respiration/microbial C) did not exhibit any significant differences between CO₂ treatments. Also no responses of microbial activity and biomass were found in a complementary greenhouse study where intact grassland turfs taken from the field site were factorially treated with elevated CO₂ and phosphorus (P) fertilizer (1 g P m^–2 y^–1). Previously reported C balance calculations showed that in the ecosystem investigated growing season soil C inputs were strongly enhanced under elevated CO₂. It is hypothesized that the absence of microbial responses to these enhanced soil C fluxes originated from mineral nutrient limitations of microbial processes. Laboratory incubations showed that short-term microbial growth (one week) was strongly limited by N availability, whereas P was not limiting in this soil. The absence of large effects of elevated CO₂ on microbial activity or biomass in such nutrient-poor natural ecosystems is in marked contrast to previously published large and short-term microbial responses to CO₂ enrichment which were found in fertilized or disturbed systems. It is speculated that the absence of such responses in undisturbed natural ecosystems in which mineral nutrient cycles have equilibrated over longer periods of time is caused by mineral nutrient limitations which are ineffective in disturbed or fertilized systems and that therefore microbial responses to elevated CO₂ must be studied in natural, undisturbed systems.     

Impact of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration on soil microbial biomass and activity in a complex, weedy field model ecosystem

Although soil organisms play an essential role in the cycling of elements in terrestrial ecosystems, little is known of the impact of increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations on soil microbial processes. We determined microbial biomass and activity in the soil of multitrophic model ecosystems housed in the Ecotron (NERC Centre for Population Biology, Ascot, UK) under two atmospheric CO₂ concentrations (ambient vs. ambient + 200 ppm). The model communities consist of four annual plant species which naturally co-occur in weedy fields and disturbed ground throughout southern England, together with their herbivores, parasitoids and soil biota. At the end of two experimental runs lasting 9 and 4.5 months, respectively, root dry weight and quality showed contradictory responses to elevated CO₂ concentrations, probably as a consequence of the different time-periods (and hence number of plant generations) in the two experiments. Despite significant root responses no differences in microbial biomass could be detected. Effects of CO₂ concentration on microbial activity were also negligible. Specific enzymes (protease and xylanase) showed a significant decrease in activity in one of the experimental runs. This could be related to the higher C:N ratio of root tissue. We compare the results with data from the literature and conclude that the response of complex communities cannot be predicted on the basis of oversimplified experimental set-ups.     

大气CO2浓度升高对不同施氮土壤酶活性的影响

利用中国唯一的无锡FACE（Free-air CO2 enrichment,开放式空气CO2浓度升高）平台,研究了大气CO2浓度升高对土壤β-葡糖苷酶、转化酶、脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、-氨基葡糖苷酶的影响。研究发现,不同氮肥处理下大气CO2浓度升高对某些土壤酶活性的影响不同。在低氮施肥处理中,大气CO2浓度升高显著降低-葡糖苷酶活性,但是在高氮施肥处理下,大气CO2浓度升高显著增加β-葡糖苷酶活性。在低氮和常氮施肥处理中大气CO2浓度升高显著增加了土壤脲酶活性,但在高氮水平下影响不显著。在低氮、常氮施肥处理中,大气CO2浓度升高对土壤酸性磷酸酶活性没有影响,而在高氮施肥处理中显著增强了土壤中磷酸酶活性。大气CO2浓度升高对土壤转化酶活性和-氨基葡糖苷酶的活性有增加趋势,但影响不显著。研究还发现,在不同的CO2浓度下,土壤酶活性对不同氮肥处理的响应也不同。在正常CO2浓度下,土壤中β-葡糖苷酶活性随着氮肥施用量的增加而降低,而在大气CO2浓度升高条件下,却随着氮肥施用量的增加而增加。在大气CO2浓度升高条件下,高氮施肥显著增加了转化酶和酸性磷酸酶活性,而在正常CO2浓度下,影响不显著。在大气CO2浓度升高条件下,氮肥处理对脲酶活性的影响不大,但在正常CO2浓度下,脲酶活性随着氮肥施用量的增加而增加。氮肥对β-氨基葡糖苷酶活性的影响不明显。     

Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on soil enzyme activities at different nitrogen application treatments

It has been predicted that elevated atmospheric CO₂ will increase enzyme activity as a result of CO₂-induced carbon entering the soil. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ on soil enzyme activities under a rice/wheat rotation. This experiment was conducted in Wuxi, Jiangsu, China as part of the China FACE (Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment) Project. Two atmospheric CO₂ concentrations (580±60) and (380±40) μmol·mol^-1) and three N application treatments (low-150, normal-250 and high-350 kg N·hm^-2) were included. Soil samples (0-10 cm) were collected for analysis of β-glucosidase, invertase, urease, acid phosphates and β-glucosaminidase activities. The results revealed that with elevated atmospheric CO₂ β-glucosidase activity significantly decreased (P < 0.05) at low N application rates; had no significant effect with a normal N application rate; and significantly increased (P < 0.05) with a high N application rate. For urease activity, at low and normal N application rates (but not high N application rate), elevated atmospheric CO₂ significantly increased (P < 0.05) it. With acid phosphatase elevated atmospheric CO₂ only had significant higher effects (P < 0.05) at high N application rates. Under different CO₂ concentration, effects of N fertilization are also different. Soil β-glucosidase activity at ambient CO₂ concentration decreased with N fertilization, while it increased at elevated CO₂ concentration. In addition, invertase and acid phosphatase activities at elevated CO₂ concentration, significantly increased (P < 0.05) with N treatments, but there was no effect with the ambient CO₂ concentration. For urease activity, at ambient CO₂ concentration, N fertilization increased it significantly (P < 0.05), whereas at elevated CO₂ concentration it was not significant. Additionally, with β-glucosaminidase activity, there were no significant effects from N application. In general, then, elevated atmospheric CO₂ increased soil enzyme activity, which may be attributed to the following two factors: (1) elevated atmospheric CO₂ led to more plant biomass in the soil, which in turn stimulated soil microbial biomass and activity; and (2) elevated atmospheric CO₂ increased plant photosynthesis, thereby increasing plant-derived soil enzymes.     

Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on soil enzyme activities at different nitrogen application treatments

It has been predicted that elevated atmospheric CO₂ will increase enzyme activity as a result of CO₂-induced carbon entering the soil. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ on soil enzyme activities under a rice/wheat rotation. This experiment was conducted in Wuxi, Jiangsu, China as part of the China FACE (Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment) Project. Two atmospheric CO₂ concentrations (580±60) and (380±40) μmol·mol^-1) and three N application treatments (low-150, normal-250 and high-350 kg N·hm^-2) were included. Soil samples (0-10 cm) were collected for analysis of β-glucosidase, invertase, urease, acid phosphates and β-glucosaminidase activities. The results revealed that with elevated atmospheric CO₂ β-glucosidase activity significantly decreased (P < 0.05) at low N application rates; had no significant effect with a normal N application rate; and significantly increased (P < 0.05) with a high N application rate. For urease activity, at low and normal N application rates (but not high N application rate), elevated atmospheric CO₂ significantly increased (P < 0.05) it. With acid phosphatase elevated atmospheric CO₂ only had significant higher effects (P < 0.05) at high N application rates. Under different CO₂ concentration, effects of N fertilization are also different. Soil β-glucosidase activity at ambient CO₂ concentration decreased with N fertilization, while it increased at elevated CO₂ concentration. In addition, invertase and acid phosphatase activities at elevated CO₂ concentration, significantly increased (P < 0.05) with N treatments, but there was no effect with the ambient CO₂ concentration. For urease activity, at ambient CO₂ concentration, N fertilization increased it significantly (P < 0.05), whereas at elevated CO₂ concentration it was not significant. Additionally, with β-glucosaminidase activity, there were no significant effects from N application. In general, then, elevated atmospheric CO₂ increased soil enzyme activity, which may be attributed to the following two factors: (1) elevated atmospheric CO₂ led to more plant biomass in the soil, which in turn stimulated soil microbial biomass and activity; and (2) elevated atmospheric CO₂ increased plant photosynthesis, thereby increasing plant-derived soil enzymes.     

N2 fixation by Acacia species increases under elevated atmospheric CO2

In the present study the effect of elevated CO₂ on growth and nitrogen fixation of seven Australian Acacia species was investigated. Two species from semi‐arid environments in central Australia (Acacia aneura and A. tetragonophylla) and five species from temperate south‐eastern Australia (Acacia irrorata, A. mearnsii, A. dealbata, A. implexa and A. melanoxylon) were grown for up to 148 d in controlled greenhouse conditions at either ambient (350 µmol mol^?1) or elevated (700 µmol mol^?1) CO₂ concentrations. After establishment of nodules, the plants were completely dependent on symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Six out of seven species had greater relative growth rates and lower whole plant nitrogen concentrations under elevated versus normal CO₂. Enhanced growth resulted in an increase in the amount of nitrogen fixed symbiotically for five of the species. In general, this was the consequence of lower whole‐plant nitrogen concentrations, which equate to a larger plant and greater nodule mass for a given amount of nitrogen. Since the average amount of nitrogen fixed per unit nodule mass was unaltered by atmospheric CO₂, more nitrogen could be fixed for a given amount of plant nitrogen. For three of the species, elevated CO₂ increased the rate of nitrogen fixation per unit nodule mass and time, but this was completely offset by a reduction in nodule mass per unit plant mass.     

Carbon gains by desiccation-tolerant plants at elevated CO2

1. There have been no reports of the long-term responses of the desiccation-tolerant (DT) plants to elevated CO₂. Xerophyta scabrida is a DT woody shrub, which loses chlorophylls and thylakoids during desiccation: a so-called poikilochlorophyllous desiccation-tolerant species (PDT). When the leaves of X. scabria are allowed to desiccate, the species shows many of the normal features of (P)DT plants.
2. However, the duration of photosynthesis in X. scabria is prolonged by 300% when the measurements are made at 700 as opposed to 350p.p.m. CO₂. The implication is that the carboxylating enzymes must still have been active at this time to enable appreciable photosynthetic activity. This response could have far-reaching implications for the success of such species in a future climate.
3. Lichens and mosses, representing the homoiochlorophyllous DTs (HDT), retain their chlorophyll content and photosynthetic apparatus during desiccation. We show the desiccation responses of two common HDT species ( Cladonia convoluta and Tortula ruralis ) to elevated CO₂ for comparison. Both HDT species showed increased net CO₂ uptake in the material grown at high CO₂ by more than 30% in moss and by more than 50% in lichen. It is concluded that desiccation-tolerant plants will be among the main beneficiaries of a high CO₂ future.     

Root responses along a subambient to elevated CO2 gradient in a C3–C4 grassland

Atmospheric CO₂ (C_a) concentration has increased significantly during the last 20 000 years, and is projected to double this century. Despite the importance of belowground processes in the global carbon cycle, community‐level and single species root responses to rising C_a are not well understood. We measured net community root biomass over 3 years using ingrowth cores in a natural C₃–C₄ grassland exposed to a gradient of C_a from preglacial to future levels (230–550 μmol mol^?1). Root windows and minirhizotron tubes were installed below naturally occurring stands of the C₄ perennial grass Bothriochloa ischaemum and its roots were measured for respiration, carbohydrate concentration, specific root length (SRL), production, and lifespan over 2 years. Community root biomass increased significantly (P<0.05) with C_a over initial conditions, with linear or curvilinear responses depending on sample date. In contrast, B. ischaemum produced significantly more roots at subambient than elevated C_a in minirhizotrons. The lifespan of roots with five or more neighboring roots in minirhizotron windows decreased significantly at high C_a, suggesting that after dense root growth depletes soil resource patches, plants with carbon surpluses readily shed these roots. Root respiration in B. ischaemum showed a curvilinear response to C_a under moist conditions in June 2000, with the lowest rates at C_a<300 μmol mol^?1 and peak activity at 450 μmol mol^?1 in a quadratic model. B. ischaemum roots at subambient C_a had higher SRLs and slightly higher carbohydrate concentrations than those at higher C_a, which may be related to drier soils at low C_a. Our data emphasize that belowground responses of plant communities to C_a can be quite different from those of the individual species, and suggest that complex interactions between and among roots and their immediate soil environment influence the responses of root physiology and lifespan to changing C_a.     

Elevated CO2 increases nitrogen fixation and decreases soil nitrogen mineralization in Florida scrub oak

We report changes in nitrogen cycling in Florida scrub oak in response to elevated atmospheric CO₂ during the first 14 months of experimental treatment. Elevated CO₂ stimulated above-ground growth, nitrogen mass, and root nodule production of the nitrogen-fixing vine, Galactia elliottii Nuttall. During this period, elevated CO₂ reduced rates of gross nitrogen mineralization in soil, and resulted in lower recovery of nitrate on resin lysimeters. Elevated CO₂ did not alter nitrogen in the soil microbial biomass, but increased the specific rate of ammonium immobilization (NH₄⁺ immobilized per unit microbial N) measured over a 24-h period. Increased carbon input to soil through greater root growth combined with a decrease in the quality of that carbon in elevated CO₂ best explains these changes. These results demonstrate that atmospheric CO₂ concentration influences both the internal cycling of nitrogen (mineralization, immobilization, and nitrification) as well as the processes that regulate total ecosystem nitrogen mass (nitrogen fixation and nitrate leaching) in Florida coastal scrub oak. If these changes in nitrogen cycling are sustained, they could cause long-term feedbacks to the growth responses of plants to elevated CO₂. Greater nitrogen fixation and reduced leaching could stimulate nitrogen-limited plant growth by increasing the mass of labile nitrogen in the ecosystem. By contrast, reduced nitrogen mineralization and increased immobilization will restrict the supply rate of plant-available nitrogen, potentially reducing plant growth. Thus, the net feedback to plant growth will depend on the balance of these effects through time.     

Reduced water repellency of a grassland soil under elevated atmospheric CO2

Water repellency is a widespread characteristic of soils that can modify soil moisture content and distribution and is implicated in important processes such as aggregation and carbon sequestration. Repellency arises as a consequence of organic matter inputs; as elevated atmospheric CO₂ is known to modify such inputs, we tested the repellency of a grassland soil after 5 years of exposure to elevated CO₂ in a free air carbon dioxide enrichment experiment. Using a water droplet penetration time test, we found a significant reduction in repellency at elevated CO₂ in samples at field moisture content. As many of the processes potentially influenced by repellency have been shown to be modified at elevated CO₂ (e.g. soil aggregation, C sequestration, recruitment from seed), we suggest that further exploration of this phenomenon could enhance our understanding of CO₂ effects on ecosystem function. The mechanism responsible for the change in repellency has not been identified.     

The turnover of carbon pools contributing to soil CO2 and soil respiration in a temperate forest exposed to elevated CO2 concentration

Soil carbon is returned to the atmosphere through the process of soil respiration, which represents one of the largest fluxes in the terrestrial C cycle. The effects of climate change on the components of soil respiration can affect the sink or source capacity of ecosystems for atmospheric carbon, but no current techniques can unambiguously separate soil respiration into its components. Long‐term free air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) experiments provide a unique opportunity to study soil C dynamics because the CO₂ used for fumigation has a distinct isotopic signature and serves as a continuous label at the ecosystem level. We used the ¹³C tracer at the Duke Forest FACE site to follow the disappearance of C fixed before fumigation began in 1996 (pretreatment C) from soil CO₂ and soil‐respired CO₂, as an index of belowground C dynamics during the first 8 years of the experiment. The decay of pretreatment C as detected in the isotopic composition of soil‐respired CO₂ and soil CO₂ at 15, 30, 70, and 200 cm soil depth was best described by a model having one to three exponential pools within the soil system. The majority of soil‐respired CO₂ (71%) originated in soil C pools with a turnover time of about 35 days. About 55%, 50%, and 68% of soil CO₂ at 15, 30, and 70 cm, respectively, originated in soil pools with turnover times of less than 1 year. The rest of soil CO₂ and soil‐respired CO₂ originated in soil pools that turn over at decadal time scales. Our results suggest that a large fraction of the C returned to the atmosphere through soil respiration results from dynamic soil C pools that cannot be easily detected in traditionally defined soil organic matter standing stocks. Fast oxidation of labile C substrates may prevent increases in soil C accumulation in forests exposed to elevated [CO₂] and may consequently result in shorter ecosystem C residence times.     

Soil CO2 efflux of two silver birch clones exposed to elevated CO2 and O3 levels during three growing seasons

In the present open‐top chamber experiment, two silver birch clones (Betula pendula Roth, clone 4 and clone 80) were exposed to elevated levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and ozone (O₃), singly and in combination, and soil CO₂ efflux was measured 14 times during three consecutive growing seasons (1999–2001). In the beginning of the experiment, all experimental trees were 7 years old and during the experiment the trees were growing in sandy field soil and fertilized regularly. In general, elevated O₃ caused soil CO₂ efflux stimulation during most measurement days and this stimulation enhanced towards the end of the experiment. The overall soil respiration response to CO₂ was dependent on the genotype, as the soil CO₂ efflux below clone 80 trees was enhanced and below clone 4 trees was decreased under elevated CO₂ treatments. Like the O₃ impact, this clonal difference in soil respiration response to CO₂ increased as the experiment progressed. Although the O₃ impact did not differ significantly between clones, a significant time × clone × CO₂× O₃ interaction revealed that the O₃‐induced stimulation of soil respiration was counteracted by elevated CO₂ in clone 4 on most measurement days, whereas in clone 80, the effect of elevated CO₂ and O₃ in combination was almost constantly additive during the 3‐year experiment. Altogether, the root or above‐ground biomass results were only partly parallel with the observed soil CO₂ efflux responses. In conclusion, our data show that O₃ impacts may appear first in the below‐ground processes and that relatively long‐term O₃ exposure had a cumulative effect on soil CO₂ efflux. Although the soil respiration response to elevated CO₂ depended on the tree genotype as a result of which the O₃ stress response might vary considerably within a single tree species under elevated CO₂, the present experiment nonetheless indicates that O₃ stress is a significant factor affecting the carbon cycling in northern forest ecosystems.     

大气CO2浓度升高对不同施氮土壤酶活性的影响

利用中国唯一的无锡FACE（Free-air CO₂ enrichment,开放式空气CO₂浓度升高）平台,研究了大气CO₂浓度升高对土壤β-葡糖苷酶、转化酶、脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、β-氨基葡糖苷酶的影响。研究发现,不同氮肥处理下大气CO₂浓度升高对某些土壤酶活性的影响不同。在低氮施肥处理中,大气CO₂浓度升高显著降低β-葡糖苷酶活性,但是在高氮施肥处理下,大气CO₂浓度升高显著增加β-葡糖苷酶活性。在低氮和常氮施肥处理中大气CO₂浓度升高显著增加了土壤脲酶活性,但在高氮水平下影响不显著。在低氮、常氮施肥处理中,大气CO₂浓度升高对土壤酸性磷酸酶活性没有影响,而在高氮施肥处理中显著增强了土壤中磷酸酶活性。大气CO₂浓度升高对土壤转化酶活性和β-氨基葡糖苷酶的活性有增加趋势,但影响不显著。研究还发现,在不同的CO₂浓度下,土壤酶活性对不同氮肥处理的响应也不同。在正常CO₂浓度下,土壤中β-葡糖苷酶活性随着氮肥施用量的增加而降低,而在大气CO₂浓度升高条件下,却随着氮肥施用量的增加而增加。在大气CO₂浓度升高条件下,高氮施肥显著增加了转化酶和酸性磷酸酶活性,而在正常CO₂浓度下,影响不显著。在大气CO₂浓度升高条件下,氮肥处理对脲酶活性的影响不大,但在正常CO₂浓度下,脲酶活性随着氮肥施用量的增加而增加。氮肥对β-氨基葡糖苷酶活性的影响不明显。     

Linking microbial activity and soil organic matter transformations in forest soils under elevated CO2

Soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics ultimately govern the ability of soil to provide long‐term C sequestration and the nutrients required for ecosystem productivity. Predicting belowground responses to elevated CO₂ requires an integrated understanding of SOM transformations and the microbial activity that governs them. It remains unclear how the microorganisms upon which these transformations depend will function in an elevated CO₂ world. This study examines SOM transformations and microbial metabolism in soils from the Duke Free Air Carbon Enrichment site in North Carolina, USA. We assessed microbial respiration and net nitrogen (N) mineralization in soils with and without elevated CO₂ exposure during a 100‐day incubation. We also traced the depleted C isotopic signature of the supplemental CO₂ into SOM and the soils' phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), which serve as biomarkers for living cells. Cumulative net N mineralization in elevated CO₂ soils was 50% that in control soils after a 100‐day incubation. Respiration was not altered with elevated CO₂. C : N ratios of bulk SOM did not change with elevated CO₂, but incubation data suggest that the C : N ratios of mineralized organic matter increased with elevated CO₂. Values of SOM δ¹³C were depleted with elevated CO₂ (?26.7±0.2 vs. ?30.2±0.3‰), reflecting the depleted signature of the supplemental CO₂. We compared δ¹³C of individual PLFA with the δ¹³C of SOM to discern incorporation of the depleted C isotopic signature into soil microbial groups in elevated CO₂ plots. PLFA i15:0, a15:0, and 10Met18:0 reflected significant incorporation of recently produced photosynthate, suggesting that the bacterial groups defined by these biomarkers are active metabolizers in elevated CO₂ soils. At least one of these groups (actinomycetes, 10Met18:0) specializes in metabolizing less labile substrates. Because control plots did not receive an equivalent ¹³C tracer, we cannot determine from these data whether this group of organisms was stimulated by elevated CO₂ compared with these organisms in control soils. Stimulation of this group, if it occurred in the elevated CO₂ plot, would be consistent with a decline in the availability of mineralizable organic matter with elevated CO₂, which incubation data suggest may be the case in these soils.     

Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration on C and N pools and rhizosphere processes in a Florida scrub oak community

The effect of elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration (C_a) on soil carbon and nitrogen accumulation and soil microbial biomass and activity in a native Florida scrub oak community was studied. The plant community, dominated by Quercus myrtifolia Willd. and Q. geminata Small, was exposed for 2 years to elevated C_a in open‐top chambers. Buried subsoil bags were retrieved after 1 year of exposure to elevated C_a. In addition, soil cores were taken twice from the chambers within two weeks in July 1998 (the first after a long dry spell and the second after 25 mm of rainfall) and divided into rhizosphere and bulk soil. Soil organic matter accumulation (excluding roots) into the buried subsoil bags was lower in elevated than in ambient C_a. Concentrations of soluble carbon and ninhydrin‐reactive nitrogen (N_ninh) in the rhizosphere soil were reduced by elevated C_a for the first sampling date and unaffected for the second sampling date. Microbial activity, measured as fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis, decreased in elevated C_a for the first sampling date. Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen in the bulk soil were unaffected by elevated C_a. There was no effect of elevated C_a on bacterial numbers in the rhizosphere.