Community composition and activity of microbes from saline soils and non-saline soils respond similarly to changes in salinity

► Microbial inocula from non-saline and saline soils were incubated at different salinity. ► At the same salinity level, cumulative respiration was similar among inocula. ► Up to EC1:5 4.6 microbes from non-saline soils had a greater ability to decompose POC. ► Activity of microbes from saline soils increased when the salinity was reduced. ► Microbial communities respond to changes in salinity.