In the 1-year dried soil, respiration also increased immediately, but then remained high for 16 h, after which it increased further, exponentially, with a peak rate after 20 h. The level of bacterial growth was initially lower in rewetted than in constantly moist soil, but started to increase linearly immediately upon rewetting 4-days dried soil. In 1-year dried soil, bacterial growth started only after a 16 h lag period of zero growth, and then increased exponentially to a peak after 30 h, at rates superseding those in continually moist soil. Fungal growth started to increase immediately upon rewetting, and reached the rate of the control soil after 2 days for the 4-days dried soil, and after a week for the 1-year dried soil