The potential for soils to produce nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is impacted by past moisture conditions; however, the extent of this impact is not fully understood. We conducted the first review of this, using two literature searches and a metaanalysis. We found 36 studies out of a possible 735 that described experiments

If a dry soil is wetted it can produce a large flush of nitrous oxide (N 2 O), which can be 10 times above the background rate, this phenomenon is called a hot moment. However, there is uncertainty in the literature regarding the mechanisms that cause hot moments. Therefore, this study aimed to induce two different hot moments on soil cores to investigate changes in nitrogen (N) cycling functional genes, and correlate these changes with subsequent N 2 O emissions, and transformations in soil chemistry. We induced a 'pre-dry' treatment which

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Achieving food security whilst minimising agriculture's influence on climate and biodiversity requires resilient systems, predicated on improved nutrient-use efficiency, water and nutrient storage in soils and reducing gaseous emissions. Success requires sufficient understanding of coupled nitrogen and carbon metabolism in soils, associated influences on soil structure, and of processes controlling nitrogen-transformations at scales relevant to microbial activity. We show the influence of organic matter on arable soil nitrogen transformations and balances can be understood by integrating metagenomic data with soil structural parameters. System function can be predicted from theory of soil as an extended composite phenotype, where physical and biotic interactions result in