Drivers of microbial respiration and net N mineralization at the continental scale

► We measured microbial respiration and net N mineralization in 84 soils. ► Surface mineral soils were collected from across biomes and vegetation types. ► We built structural equation models to describe these processes. ► Models explained 79% & 33% variance in respiration & N mineralization, respectively. ► Puts bounds on influence of microbial community, OM quality, clay mineralogy.