Abstract Assessment of soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics is often inadequately represented in empirical measurements because of the significant heterogeneity in soil structure and physico-chemical properties. Partitioning soil carbon (C) emissions into autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration is essential for understanding CO 2 flux sources, but inconsistencies in their magnitude and responses reveal a knowledge gap in partitioning methodologies and their impact on respiration estimates. Utilizing data from an eight-yr field mesocosm study in a temperate oak forest, we computed C emissions from multiple components based on the metabolic theory. Our theoretical calculations of soil C emissions from various treatments were validated against periodic field measurements of soil respiration over an eight-year period. The optimized computations, which included annual precipitation data and accounted for biomass C from litter, roots, and microbes, closely aligned with field measurements of soil respiration across varying treatments. These results showed that fine root and microbial biomass jointly drove temporal variations in soil C emissions, while interannual precipitation variability plays a secondary role. This study confirms the feasibility of using metabolic theory to quantify soil C emissions and highlights the critical role of fine roots and soil microbial biomass, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of these factors in SOC budget assessments. Graphical abstract

Abstract Soil fauna are crucial for nutrient cycling and promoting plant growth. Plant species mixtures can enhance soil biodiversity and ecosystem functions, but their effects on soil fauna under changing water availability remain poorly understood. To address this gap, we combined a field experiment with a meta-analysis to examine how plant species mixtures influence springtail communities under varying water availability. In a field experiment in Ontario, Canada, we assessed springtail abundance, species richness, Simpson’s diversity index, and community composition in pure and mixed stands of trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides ) and jack pine ( Pinus banksiana ) under ambient, reduced (− 25%), and increased (+ 25%) throughfall in young boreal forest. Tree mixtures enhanced springtail abundance and increased Simpson’s diversity index from − 8.3% under ambient water to + 12.3% under reduced water. Springtail community compositions varied significantly among stand types, with shifts in community composition strongly correlated with fine-root biomass and soil water content. A meta-analysis revealed the effects of plant mixtures on springtail abundance were more positive in sites with less precipitation. On the basis of these results, converting plant mixtures to monocultures will significantly decrease springtail abundance and diversity in areas with less water.