Microbial diversity in three floodplain soils at the Elbe River (Germany)

Microbial communities in floodplain soils are exposed to periodical flooding. A long-term submerged Eutric Gleysol (GLe), an intermediate flooded Eutric Fluvisol (FLe), and a short-time flooded Mollic Fluvisol (FLm) at the Elbe River (Germany) with similar organic carbon contents (Corg) between 8.1% and 8.9% were selected to test the quality of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), soil microbial carbon (Cmic), basal respiration (BR), metabolic quotient (qCO2), and Cmic/Corg ratio to characterize and discriminate these soils with microbial parameters.The three floodplain soils can be differentiated by Cmic and by total PLFA-biomass. Due to the different flooding durations and the time since the soils were last flooded Cmic and PLFA-biomass increase in the order GLe