Influence of plant species and soil conditions on plant–soil feedback in mixed grassland communities

Abstract

Summary 1.Our aim was to explore plant-soil feedback in mixed grassland communities and its significance for plant productivity and community composition relative to abiotic factors of soil type and fertility. 2. We carried out a 4-year, field-based mesocosm experiment to determine the relative effects of soil type, historic management intensity and soil conditioning by a wide range of plant species of mesotrophic grassland on the productivity and evenness of subsequent mixed communities. 3. The study consisted of an initial soil conditioning phase, whereby soil from two locations each with two levels of management intensity was conditioned with monocultures of nine grassland species, and a subsequent feedback phase, where mixed communities of the nine species were grown in conditioned soil to determine relative effects of experimental factors on the productivity and evenness of mixed communities and individual plant species performance. 4. In the conditioning phase of the experiment, individual plant species differentially influenced soil microbial communities and nutrient availability. However, these biotic effects were much less important as drivers of soil microbial properties and nutrient availability than were abiotic factors of soil type and fertility. 5. Significant feedback effects of conditioning were detected during the second phase of the study in terms of individual plant growth in mixed communities. These feedback effects were generally independent of soil type or fertility, and were consistently negative in nature. In most cases, individual plant species performed less well in mixed communities planted in soil that had previously supported their own species. 6. Synthesis. These findings suggest that despite soil abiotic factors acting as major drivers of soil microbial communities and nutrient availability, biotic interactions in the form of negative feedback play a significant role in regulating individual plant performance in mixed grassland communities across a range of soil conditions.

The relationship between soil bacteria substrate utilisation patterns and the vegetation structure in temperate forests

“…However, this relationship was only observed for the soil O horizon and was relatively weak, as soil factors, such as pH or nutrient contents, also influence bacterial CLPP and overlay plant-mediated effects. These results are consistent with those of previous studies, where relationship between plants and soil microbes communities structure was observed, but soil physicochemical properties were demonstrated as more important drivers of soil microbial properties (Harrison and Bardgett 2010;Thoms et al 2010). Soils under different forest types showed diversified soil properties.…”

The effects of grassland degradation on plant diversity, primary productivity, and soil fertility in the alpine region of Asia’s headwaters

“…This can be attributed to the insufficient nutrients, which may enhance the effects of plant competition for resources in the HD and SD grasslands. The decrease in APB with grassland degradation causes a significant decrease in the inputs of plant of C, N, and P to the soil and results in decreased soil of C, N, and P accumulation (Zak et al 2003;De Deyn et al 2004;Li et al 2009;Harrison and Bardgett 2010). High plant diversity may produce high plant biomass and different root exudates, which, in turn, supports a greater diversity of decomposers, detritivores, and symbiotic microorganisms (Millard and Singh 2010;Eisenhauer et al 2012;Rzanny and Voigt 2012), promoting decomposition of organic matter and available nutrient supply, improving plant growth hormones, and maintaining grassland ecosystem dynamic stability (Millard and Singh 2010;Shi et al 2011).…”

Host Identity Impacts Rhizosphere Fungal Communities Associated with Three Alpine Plant Species

“…Partner identity and environmental conditions have been shown to influence the strength of plant-fungal interactions and subsequent feedbacks [4,10,11]. Even fungi capable of colonizing numerous host species (e.g., arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) often exhibit some degree of host specificity [10,[12][13][14], which can generate species-specific feedbacks that influence both above-and belowground community composition [2].…”

“…Even fungi capable of colonizing numerous host species (e.g., arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) often exhibit some degree of host specificity [10,[12][13][14], which can generate species-specific feedbacks that influence both above-and belowground community composition [2]. Since abiotic conditions can alter these plant-fungal feedbacks [11], rhizosphere communities also likely vary along environmental and habitat gradients [e.g., 15]. Characterizing the rhizosphere fungi associated with widespread hosts that co-occur along such gradients may provide insight into the relative importance of host identity and habitat in structuring these fungal communities.…”