Do plant species with different growth strategies vary in their ability to compete with soil microbes for chemical forms of nitrogen?

Harrison, Kathryn A.; Bol, Roland; Bardgett, Richard D.

doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2007.08.004

Cited by 131 publications

(96 citation statements)

References 50 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Mean soil MBC in the CTDD plots was significantly higher than in the control plots in every sampling week, except for the three weeks before the treatment and the 96th week after the treatment. A sudden deposition of massive hurricane-induced litterfall in various forests was shown to increase soil carbon input and the heterogeneity of the microenvironment for soil microbes [5], change soil C/N ratios [3,8], increase and then decrease competition for soil nutrients between soil microorganisms and plant species [23,57], and alter the biomass and biodiversity of litter invertebrates [14], all of which could be potential factors that might have jointly elevated soil MBC. These potential factors in the CTDD plots may lead to a persistent higher soil MBC in the CTDD plots.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of Soil Labile Organic Carbon to a Simulated Hurricane Disturbance in a Tropical Wet Forest

Liu

XiuCheng

Zou

et al. 2018

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:Hurricanes are an important disturbance in the tropics that can alter forest ecosystem properties and processes. To understand the immediate influence of hurricane disturbance on carbon cycling, we examined soil labile organic carbon (LOC) in a Canopy Trimming Experiment (CTE) located in the Luquillo Experimental Forest of Puerto Rico. We trimmed tree canopy and deposited debris (CTDD) on the forest ground of the treatment plots in December 2014, and collected floor mass samples and 0-10 cm soil samples three weeks before the treatment, as well as at scheduled intervals for 120 weeks after the treatment. Within the first week following the CTDD treatment, the mean soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and soil LOC in the CTDD plots were significantly greater than in the control plots (soil MBC: 2.56 g/kg versus 1.98 g/kg, soil LOC: 9.16 g/kg versus 6.44 g/kg, respectively), and the mean turnover rates of soil LOC in the CTDD plots were significantly faster than in the control plots. The measured indices fluctuated temporally more in the CTDD plots than in the control plots, especially between the 12th and 84th week after the CTDD treatment. The treatment effect on soil LOC and its turnover rate gradually disappeared after the 84th week following the treatment, while higher levels of soil MBC in the CTDD plots than in the control plots remained high, even at the 120th week. Our data suggest that hurricane disturbance can accelerate the cycling of soil LOC on a short temporal scale of less than two years, but might have a longer lasting effect on soil MBC in a tropical wet forest.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of Soil Labile Organic Carbon to a Simulated Hurricane Disturbance in a Tropical Wet Forest

Liu

XiuCheng

Zou

et al. 2018

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Three times during the growing season, we measured the responses of six soil C and N pools beneath each community to small artificial rainfall events: ammonium and nitrate, the primary forms plant-available N; dissolved organic C (DOC) and N (DON), the primary substrates for microbial growth (and perhaps available to plants; Jones et al 2005, Harrison et al 2008; and microbial C and N, the "pool" responsible for C and N mineralization.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant phenology and life span influence soil pool dynamics: Bromus tectorum invasion of perennial C3–C4 grass communities

Adair

Burke

2010

Plant Soil

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In water-limited ecosystems, small rainfall events can have dramatic impacts on microbial activity and soil nutrient pools. Plant community phenology and life span also affect soil resources by determining the timing and quantity of plant nutrient uptake, storage, and release. Using the replacement of C 3 -C 4 perennial grasses by the invasive annual grass Bromus tectorum as a case study, we investigated the influence of phenology and life span on pulse responses and sizes of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools. We hypothesized that available and microbial C and N would respond to small rainfall events and that B. tectorum invasion would increase soil C and N pools by reducing inter-annual plant C and N storage and alter seasonal pool dynamics by changing the timing of plant uptake and litter inputs. We tested our hypotheses by simulating small rainfall events in B. tectorum and perennial grass communities three times during the growing season. Microbial pools responded strongly to soil moisture and simulated rainfall events, but labile C and N pools were affected weakly or not at all. All pools were larger beneath B. tectorum than perennial grasses. Soil C and N pools increased after senescence in both communities. Our results suggest that transforming a perennial into a B. tectorum dominated community increases the overall size of soil C and N pools by decreasing plant C and N storage and changes seasonal pool dynamics by altering dominant plant phenology. Our results indicate strong roles for water, life span and phenology in controlling soil C and N pools and begin to elucidate the biogeochemical effects of altering plant community phenology and life span.

show abstract

“…Several studies have shown that a wide variety of plant species are able to take up organic N compounds, especially under low N conditions [10,102,[110][111][112][113]. However, the importance of this N source and the methods used to evaluate its contribution to plant N requirements has been questioned.…”

Section: Nitrogen Assimilation By Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Crops for Sustainable Agriculture

et al. 2011

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:In this review, we present the recent developments and future prospects of improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in crops using various complementary approaches. These include conventional breeding and molecular genetics, in addition to alternative farming techniques based on no-till continuous cover cropping cultures and/or organic nitrogen (N) nutrition. Whatever the mode of N fertilization, an increased knowledge of the mechanisms controlling plant N economy is essential for improving NUE and for reducing excessive input of fertilizers, while maintaining an acceptable yield and sufficient profit margin for the farmers. Using plants grown under agronomic conditions, with different tillage conditions, in pure or associated cultures, at low and high N mineral fertilizer input, or using organic fertilization, it is now possible to develop further whole plant agronomic and physiological studies. These can be combined with gene, protein and metabolite profiling to build up a comprehensive picture depicting the different steps of N uptake, assimilation and recycling to produce either biomass in vegetative organs or proteins in storage organs. We provide a critical overview as to how our understanding of the agro-ecophysiological, physiological and molecular controls of N assimilation in crops, under varying environmental conditions, has been improved. We have used combined approaches, based on agronomic studies, whole plant physiology, quantitative genetics, forward and reverse genetics and the emerging systems biology. Long-term sustainability may require a gradual transition from synthetic N inputs to legume-based crop rotation, including continuous cover cropping systems, where these may be possible in certain areas of the world, depending on climatic conditions. Current knowledge and prospects for future agronomic development and application for breeding crops adapted to lower mineral fertilizer input and to alternative farming techniques are explored, whilst taking into account the constraints of both the current world economic situation and the environment.

show abstract

Do plant species with different growth strategies vary in their ability to compete with soil microbes for chemical forms of nitrogen?

Cited by 131 publications

References 50 publications

Responses of Soil Labile Organic Carbon to a Simulated Hurricane Disturbance in a Tropical Wet Forest

Responses of Soil Labile Organic Carbon to a Simulated Hurricane Disturbance in a Tropical Wet Forest

Plant phenology and life span influence soil pool dynamics: Bromus tectorum invasion of perennial C3–C4 grass communities

Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Crops for Sustainable Agriculture

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About