Respiration mean values were significantly higher in the SSamended
soils (control and treated with mesotrione) than in the
unamended and C-amended soils (LSD = 142.8, p b 0.05). SS increases
labile organic substances which stimulate microbial respiration (JorgeMardomingo
et al., 2013). In previous reports, soil respiration increased
after the application of organic amendments (Jorge-Mardomingo et al.,
2013; Mattana et al., 2014), as amendments have a positive short-term
effect on soil respiration.