The nutrient release rate accounts for the effect of organic matter type on soil microbial carbon use efficiency of a Pinus tabulaeformis forest in northern China

Purpose Microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) greatly controls the magnitude of soil organic carbon turnover. This study was conducted to estimate the CUE with the additions of different organic matter (OM) to the top soil of a Pinus tabulaeformis forest and explore the variations of CUE and ecoenzyme activity with the quality of the added OM.