Seasonality of soil biological properties in a poplar plantation growing under elevated atmospheric CO2

CO2 enrichment significantly affected soil nutrient content and three enzyme activities: acid phosphatase, chitinase and arylsulphatase, indicators of nutrient acquisition activity. Microbial biomass increased by a 16% under elevated CO2. All soil biochemical properties were significantly affected by the temporal variability and the interaction between time and CO2 level significantly influenced β-glucosidase activity and microbial respiration. Data on arylsulphatase and chitinase activity suggest a possible shift of microbial population in favour of fungi induced by the FACE treatment.