Fig. 4. Comparison of new storage biosynthesis with DNA-based microbial growth reveals storage as a substantial, overlooked component of biomass growth in soil.

¹³C-labelled storage compound synthesis (PHB and TAGs) and DNA-based growth (incorporation of ¹⁸O) were measured in soil 24 A and 96 h B after addition of a readily degradable, ¹³C-labelled carbon source (glucose at 0, 90, and 400 µg C g⁻¹ soil) with or without mineral nutrient supply (ntr.; N, P, K, S). Error bars represent mean±standard deviation in each component of the stacked bar (n = 4 independent soil microcosms). Lowercase letters above the plots show post-hoc differences in total observed growth with p < 0.05 (2-sided Tukey HSD test, which adjusts for multiple comparisons).