Articles | Volume 12, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-703-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-703-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Electrical conductivity measurements as proxies for diffusion-limited microbial activity in soils under controlled laboratory conditions
Orsolya Fülöp
Sorbonne Université, CNRS, EPHE, UMR 7619 METIS, 75005 Paris, France
Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, UPEC, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences – Paris, 75005 Paris, France
Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, UPEC, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences – Paris, 75005 Paris, France
Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
Mamadou Gueye
Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, UPEC, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences – Paris, 75005 Paris, France
Damien Jougnot
Sorbonne Université, CNRS, EPHE, UMR 7619 METIS, 75005 Paris, France
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Julie-Maï Paris, Naoise Nunan, and Xavier Raynaud
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1841, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1841, 2026
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Soil hosts diverse microorganisms forming complex metabolic networks. Their interactions depend on spatial distribution, often overlooked in studies. We propose a new geometric model that show that spatial arrangement affects resource use: density and interaction ranges can alter resource transformations. Spatial structure thus regulates microbial community function and resource transformation in soils.
Maëlle Maestrali, Naoise Nunan, Antsa Sarobidy-Randrianantenaina, Haotian Wu, Steffen A. Schweizer, and Xavier Raynaud
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1818, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1818, 2026
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Soil microorganisms contribute to carbon storage, but their efficacy depends on their environment. We have developed a computer model based on real soil structures to investigate how pore shape, resource location and water content influence microbial behaviour. Small, poorly interconnected pores favour slower but more efficient microorganisms, whilst large, interconnected pores favour fast-growing but less efficient ones, demonstrating that soil structure plays a decisive role in carbon storage.
Naoise Nunan, Claire Chenu, Valérie Pouteau, André Soro, Kevin Potard, Célia R. Montes, Patricia Merdy, Adolpho J. Melfi, and Yves Lucas
Biogeosciences, 23, 1279–1289, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1279-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1279-2026, 2026
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The vulnerability to decomposition of organic C in Amazonian podzols as a result of predicted drier soil moisture regimes was tested: more than four times as much CO2 was released from soils under oxic conditions with the addition of N relative to soils under the prevailing anoxic conditions. An extrapolation of the data to the whole of the Amazonian podzols suggests that this increased C-CO2 flux to the atmosphere could be equivalent to 8 % of the current net global C flux to the atmosphere.
Kaiyan Hu, Bertille Loiseau, Simon D. Carrière, Nolwenn Lesparre, Cédric Champollion, Nicolas K. Martin-StPaul, Niklas Linde, and Damien Jougnot
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 2997–3018, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2997-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-2997-2025, 2025
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This study explores the potential of the electrical self-potential (SP) method, a passive geophysical technique, to provide additional insights into tree transpiration rates. We measured SP and sap velocity in three tree species over a year in a Mediterranean climate. Results indicate SP may characterize transpiration rates, especially during dry seasons. Additionally, the electrokinetic coupling coefficients of these trees align with values typically found in porous geological media.
Audrey Bonnelye, Pierre Dick, Marco Bohnhoff, Fabrice Cotton, Rüdiger Giese, Jan Henninges, Damien Jougnot, Grzegorz Kwiatek, and Stefan Lüth
Adv. Geosci., 58, 177–188, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-58-177-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-58-177-2023, 2023
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The overall objective of the CHENILLE project is to performed an in-situ experiment in the Underground Reaserch Laboratory of Tournemire (Southern France) consisting of hydraulic and thermal stimulation of a fault zone. This experiment is monitored with extensive geophysical means (passive seismic, active seismic, distributed fiber optics for temperature measurements) in order to unravel the physical processes taking place during the stimulation for a better charactization of fault zones.
Flore Rembert, Marie Léger, Damien Jougnot, and Linda Luquot
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 417–430, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-417-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-417-2023, 2023
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The formation of underground cavities, called karsts, resulting from carbonate rock dissolution, is at stake in many environmental and societal issues, notably through risk management and the administration and quality of drinking water resources. Facing natural environment complexity, we propose a laboratory study combining hydro-chemical monitoring, 3D imaging, and non-invasive observation of electrical properties, showing the benefits of geoelectrical monitoring to map karst formation.
Thomas Hermans, Pascal Goderniaux, Damien Jougnot, Jan H. Fleckenstein, Philip Brunner, Frédéric Nguyen, Niklas Linde, Johan Alexander Huisman, Olivier Bour, Jorge Lopez Alvis, Richard Hoffmann, Andrea Palacios, Anne-Karin Cooke, Álvaro Pardo-Álvarez, Lara Blazevic, Behzad Pouladi, Peleg Haruzi, Alejandro Fernandez Visentini, Guilherme E. H. Nogueira, Joel Tirado-Conde, Majken C. Looms, Meruyert Kenshilikova, Philippe Davy, and Tanguy Le Borgne
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 255–287, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-255-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-255-2023, 2023
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Although invisible, groundwater plays an essential role for society as a source of drinking water or for ecosystems but is also facing important challenges in terms of contamination. Characterizing groundwater reservoirs with their spatial heterogeneity and their temporal evolution is therefore crucial for their sustainable management. In this paper, we review some important challenges and recent innovations in imaging and modeling the 4D nature of the hydrogeological systems.
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Short summary
Soil microorganisms play a key role in carbon cycling, yet their activity depends strongly on soil water connectivity. We investigated whether electrical conductivity, a non-destructive geophysical measurement, could provide information about microbial respiration under drying conditions. Our results suggest that electrical conductivity measurements may help better understand diffusion-limited soil respiration.
Soil microorganisms play a key role in carbon cycling, yet their activity depends strongly on...