Carbon uptake by a microbial community during 30-day treatment with 13C-glucose of a sandy loam soil fertilized for 20 years with NPK or compost as determined by a GC-C-IRMS analysis of phospholipid fatty acids

► Ratio of monounsaturated to branched PLFAs was lowest in compost-treated soil. ► More 13C was incorporated into bacteria than fungi and actinobacteria. ► 13C incorporation into G+ bacteria was highest in compost-treated soil. ► 13C was more effectively maintained in compost-treated soil after 30 d incubation.