Effects of air drying on the respiration of forest soil microbial populations

Microbial populations from dried, remoistened and undried forest organic horizons were allowed to thoroughly recolonize sterilized forest organic horizons; oxygen uptake was followed during recolonization. Microbial damage due to air drying was in the order litter (L) > fermentation (F) > humus (H). Species diversity, as indicated by diminished O 2 uptake, was reduced in all horizons which had been air dried, with greatest damage in the litter horizon. Samples of these forest organic soil materials, designated for the study of microbially driven processes, should not be air dried.