By: Dennis, Benjamin J.,, Andreas, Bram W.,, Schnecker, Michael, Richter, Jörg, Christina, Lucia
Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of drought events, affecting soil functions driven by microorganisms. Here, Metze et al. develop a method to estimate microbial growth rates in dry soils, and provide insights into the response of active microbes to drought today and in potential future climate conditions (high temperatures and CO2 levels).