Impact of grassland burning on soil organic matter as revealed by a synchrotron- and pyrolysis-mass spectrometry-based multi-methodological approach

► Soil from three treatments at two experimental sites investigated for influence of vegetation burning. ► Organic matter analysed by way of XANES, Py-GC-MS, Py-SPI-MS and Py-FIMS. ► Relative enrichment of unsaturated carbon and non-peptide nitrogen observed. ► Formation of N-heterocyclic and/or more recalcitrant soil organic matter observed at almost constant total organic C and N.