Abstract
Soil carbohydrates, which include polysaccharides, are partly of microbial origin, contributing to soil structure and improving soil aggregates. This study examined the effect of climate along a topoclimatic gradient in the Judean desert. Soil was sampled at four locations representing different abiotic environments along the transect during the 1994 and 1995 study period. Significant differences in soil organic matter between the locations were obtained, decreasing towards the dry extreme desert sites. Carbohydrates, which probably are mainly composed of microbial extracellular polysaccharides, were found to increase during the dry season reaching maximum values by the end of autumn. The spatial and temporal changes in carbohydrate content are of great importance, representing biological activity that contributes to bonding between soil particles and helps promote nutrient accessibility to microorganisms. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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