3.4. Soil MBC, DOC, and F:B ratio
Drying-rewetting cycles had significant impacts on MBC (Fig. 5a). The 80-40% and 100-20% WHC treatments decreased the MBC content of BF and BF+ soils. The 100-20% WHC treatment increased the MBC content of OF soil (Fig. 5a). Soil DOC content did not differ among water regimes in all three soils (Fig. 5b).
Both 80-40% and 100-20% WHC treatments increased F:B ratio in the BF+ soil (Fig. 5c). For constant moisture treatment at 60% WHC, F:B ratio was lowest in the OF soil. Both MBC and DOC had a positive linear relationship with cumulative C mineralization during the extended period across the three soils (Fig. 6).