Nitrogen Mineralization in Cool Temperate Soils: Microbial and Organic Matter Perspectives: A Review

Le résumé fourni par la source

Nitrogen (N) mineralization in cool temperate soils is a complex, microbially driven process that acts as a vital bridge between organic matter decomposition and plant-available nitrogen pools. These ecosystems are uniquely characterized by prolonged low temperatures, frequent freeze-thaw cycles and seasonal moisture fluctuations, which impose significant selective pressures on microbial physiology. Despite these constraints, cold-adapted microbial communities sustain N cycling through specialized metabolic adaptations, including the production of psychrophilic enzymes and membrane modifications. Depolymerization remains the rate-limiting “gatekeeping” step, regulated by the extracellular breakdown of complex organic N compounds into soluble monomers. This review highlights the critical role of organic matter quality and organo-mineral stabilization in modulating N availability, noting that environmental pulses-such as thawing and rewetting-frequently trigger transient flushes of mineralization. As climate change alters winter temperature regimes and snow cover, understanding these microbially mediated mechanisms becomes essential for predicting N availability and developing sustainable nutrient management strategies to mitigate leaching and gaseous losses in cool agroecosystems.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.