Soil microbial biomass and activity of a disturbed and undisturbed shrub-steppe ecosystem

Bolton, H.; Smith, Jeffrey L.; Link, Steven O.

doi:10.1016/0038-0717(93)90192-e

Cited by 153 publications

(108 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Early spring studies have found lower inorganic N levels beneath B. tectorum than perennial grasses (Evans et al 2001 and at the same site), likely due to early spring draw down of soil resources by B. tectorum, which develops roots extensively during the fall and early spring and becomes active earlier than many native perennial species (Harris 1967, Kremer and Running 1996, Booth et al 2003a). In July and August, inorganic N pools were larger beneath B. tectorum than perennial grasses, supporting our hypothesis that B. tectorum senescence increased available N pools, and thus likely increased N availability, by reducing plant uptake and releasing all biomass N. Most B. tectorum studies have also found more inorganic N beneath post-senescent B. tectorum than beneath perennial communities (Bolton et al 1993, Booth et al 2003b, Saetre and Stark 2005; but see Norton et al 2008 who found more nitrate and faster N cycling, but less ammonium, beneath B. tectorum than perennial grasses).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…Much less information exists regarding the effects of B. tectorum invasion on pools of microbial biomass, DOC, and DON, although Bolton et al (1993) found larger winter pools of microbial biomass beneath B. tectorum than perennial grasses-a period of time not covered in our study. Norton et al (2008) found less DOC and DON beneath B. tectorum than perennial grasses in August, results that contrast somewhat with our findings that B. tectorum invasion increased DON across the growing season, but only increased DOC beneath B. tectorum versus perennial grasses in June and July (DOC was similar beneath both communities in August).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 59%

“…Despite such substantial changes, the overall effect of B. tectorum invasion on soil C and N remains unclear: soils been found to have lower, higher, and similar levels of N and C beneath B. tectorum versus perennial grasses (Bolton et al 1990, Bolton et al 1993, Evans et al 2001, Booth et al 2003b). These mixed results may be because most B. tectorum studies consist of single point, short-term, or laboratory measurements that do not incorporate daily and seasonal variation in abiotic conditions and plant activity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Adair

Burke

2010

Plant Soil

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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.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 59%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Adair

Burke

2010

Plant Soil

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“…This creates a heterogeneous distribution of nutrients with resource-rich patches surrounding perennial plants and resource-poor interspaces (Charley and West 1977, Doescher et al 1984, Bolton et al 1993, Jackson and Caldwell 1993, Halvorson et al 1995, Ryel et al 1996.…”

Section: Status and Trends Of Sagebrush Ecosystems 7 -22mentioning

confidence: 99%

Broad-Scale Assessment of Rangeland Health, Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, USA

Miller

2008

Rangeland Ecology & Management

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“…More specifically, in the case of B. tectorum Bolton et al (1993) noted an increase in culturable soil heterotrophs, actinomycetes and fungi in a cheatgrass invaded Great Basin shrub-steppe community. In a southwestern Utah grassland community Belnap and Phillips (2001) observed an increase in both soil fungal numbers and species in B. tectorum invaded sites.…”

Section: Plant-soil Microbial Community Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Cheatgrass Invasion - The Below-Ground Connection

Reitstetter¹,

Larry

2017

JEE

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Plant-soil microbial feedback loops play an important role in the establishment and development of plant communities. Microbial soil communities, including pathogens, plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria and their reciprocal interactions, can influence plant health and nutrient cycling in many ways. We are proposing a model that accounts for cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) invasion success and long-term persistence in both disturbed and undisturbed sites. In this model cheatgrass alters soil microbial communities that favor nitrifying microorganisms, resulting in elevated NO 3 -levels. Increased NO 3 -levels, coupled with B. tectorum life history and climatic and edaphic conditions in the semi-arid western U.S., result in long-term persistence of this invasive annual. In ecosystems that lack major precipitation during the growth season, B. tectorum induced shifts in the nitrifier community result in accumulation of plant available nitrogen during the summer when native perennials are primarily dormant. Increased NO 3 -levels can be efficiently utilized by cheatgrass ahead of native perennials during fall and winter. Restoration and management efforts must be guided by a thorough understanding of soil microbe-cheatgrass interactions to avoid nutrient flushes resulting from freeze-thaw and wet-dry cycles that benefit this invasive grass.

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Soil microbial biomass and activity of a disturbed and undisturbed shrub-steppe ecosystem

Cited by 153 publications

References 31 publications

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

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

Broad-Scale Assessment of Rangeland Health, Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, USA

Cheatgrass Invasion - The Below-Ground Connection

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