SOILS, SEC 2 • GLOBAL CHANGE, ENVIRON RISK ASSESS, SUSTAINABLE LAND USE • RESEARCH ARTICLE Dynamics of soil amino sugar pools during decomposition

Purpose Identifying the impact of inorganic-nitrogen (N) availability on soil amino sugar dynamics during corn (Zea mays L.) residue decomposition may advance our knowl-edge of microbial carbon (C) and N transformations and the factors controlling these processes in soils. Amino sugars are routinely used as microbial biomarkers to investigate C and N sequestration in microbial residues, and they are also involved in microbial-mediated soil organic matter (SOM) turnover. We conducted a 38-week incubation study using a Mollisol which was amended with corn residues and four levels of inorganic N (i.e., 0, 60.3, 167.2, and 701.9 mg N kg−1 soil). The objective of this study was to examine the effects of inorganic-N availability on fungal and bacterial formation and stabili