Priming effects of sugars,amino acids,organic acids and catechol on the mineralization of lignin and peat

The ¹⁴C‐labeled substrates glucose, fructose, alanine, glycine, oxalic acid, acetic acid, and catechol were incubated at 20 °C in a model system that consisted of sand mixed with lignin or peat (3 % C_org). Each substrate was added at either 80 or 400 μg C (g sand)^—1. During 26 days of incubation with an inoculum extracted from forest soil, the amount of CO₂ evolved was measured hourly. The amount of ¹⁴CO₂ was determined after 4, 6, 12, 19, and 26 days. After 26 days of incubation, each substrate showed priming effects, but not in all examined treatments. Most substrates stimulated the degradation of the model substances (positive priming effects). Negative priming effects only were found in the lignin system with oxalic acid and catechol addition at both concentrations. The strongest positive priming occurred in the peat system with the oxalic acid addition of 80 μg C g^—1 where 1.8 % of the peat were mineralized after 26 days, compared to 0.7 % in the control. The addition of 400 μg alanine‐C g^—1 caused the strongest increase in lignin mineralization, amounting to 3.9 % compared to 2.8 % in the control. During the incubation the extent of priming changed with time. Most substrates caused the strongest effects during the first 4 to 10 days of incubation. The extent of priming depended on substrate type, substrate concentration, and organic model substance. Possibly this is due to the activation of different microorganisms.