Constant and diurnally-varying temperature regimes lead to different temperature sensitivities of soil organic carbon decomposition

In a 122-day incubation experiment with two soil types under four temperature treatments, we examined whether the temperature sensitivity of soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition differed between constant and diurnally-varying soil temperature regimes. We calculated the Q10 values after accounting for changes in substrate availability and quality among treatments over time. The Q10 values under constant temperature regime were consistently and significantly higher than those under diurnally-varying temperature regime, particularly in the later stages of decomposition (by up to 30%). This result indicated that different temperature regime was one of the important factors causing the current controversy about the temperature sensitivity of SOC decomposition in published reports.

Research highlights
► Microbial decomposition of soil organic carbon is sensitive to temperature changes.
► We measure the sensitivity under constant and diurnally-varying temperature regimes.
► The constant regime results in higher sensitivities than the diurnally-varying regime.
► Temperature regimes affect the sensitivity measurements.