Different soil water and nutrient conditions affect soil microbial ecology and changes in soil moisture and nutrients reflect changes in the soil environment over time. In this study, the utilization of carbon sources by the soil microbial community under slash pine, hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) and kauri pine (Agathis australis) was investigated with manipulated soil moisture contents using MicroResp TM methods. Results showed that under slash pine, carbon utilization was highest in soil at 60% water holding capacity (WHC) and lowest at 40% WHC. The high carbon utilization at 60% WHC is likely due to respiration from anaerobic microorganisms. Conversely, the hoop and kauri pine showed similar results with
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