“…A greater understanding of microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen relationships may be gained by considering the range of studies which have investigated the effects of straw and residue addition on the microbial biomass, especially in agroecosystems. Such additions usually result in large increases in microbial biomass which may be sustained for a considerable period (Lynch & Panting, 1980bPowlson, Brookes & Jenkinson, 1987;Sorenson, 1987;Allison & Killham, 1988;Bonde et al, 1988;Dalal, Henderson & Glasby, 1991;Ocio, Brookes & Jenkinson, 1991 a ) although exceptions do exist (Cochran, Elliott & Lewis, 1989). Further, the proportional increase in microbial biomass may be substantially greater than the proportional increase in soil organic carbon or nitrogen (Powlson et al, 1987;Saffigna et al, 1989).…”