Showing papers in "Plant and Soil in 2013"

Hyperaccumulators of metal and metalloid trace elements: Facts and fiction

Abstract: Plants that accumulate metal and metalloid trace elements to extraordinarily high concentrations in their living biomass have inspired much research worldwide during the last decades. Hyperaccumulators have been recorded and experimentally confirmed for elements such as nickel, zinc, cadmium, manganese, arsenic and selenium. However, to date, hyperaccumulation of lead, copper, cobalt, chromium and thallium remain largely unconfirmed. Recent uses of the term in relation to rare-earth elements require critical evaluation. Since the mid-1970s the term ‘hyperaccumulator’ has been used millions of times by thousands of people, with varying degrees of precision, aptness and understanding that have not always corresponded with the views of the originators of the terminology and of the present authors. There is therefore a need to clarify the circumstances in which the term ‘hyperaccumulator’ is appropriate and to set out the conditions that should be met when the terms are used. We outline here the main considerations for establishing metal or metalloid hyperaccumulation status of plants, (re)define some of the terminology and note potential pitfalls. Unambiguous communication will require the international scientific community to adopt standard terminology and methods for confirming the reliability of analytical data in relation to metal and metalloid hyperaccumulators.

Biochar’s effect on crop productivity and the dependence on experimental conditions—a meta-analysis of literature data

Abstract: For the last decade, there has been an increasing global interest in using biochar to mitigate climate change by storing carbon in soil. However, there is a lack of detailed knowledge on the impact of biochar on the crop productivity in different agricultural systems. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of biochar soil amendment (BSA) on crop productivity and to analyze the dependence of responses on experimental conditions. A weighted meta-analysis was conducted based on data from 103 studies published up to April, 2013. The effect of BSA on crop productivity was quantified by characterizing experimental conditions. In the published experiments, with biochar amendment rates generally <30 t ha−1, BSA increased crop productivity by 11.0 % on average, while the responses varied with experimental conditions. Greater responses were found in pot experiments than in field, in acid than in neutral soils, in sandy textured than in loam and silt soils. Crop response in field experiments was greater for dry land crops (10.6 % on average) than for paddy rice (5.6 % on average). This result, associated with the higher response in acid and sandy textured soils, suggests both a liming and an aggregating/moistening effect of BSA. The analysis suggests a promising role for BSA in improving crop productivity especially for dry land crops, and in acid, poor-structured soils though there was wide variation with soil, crop and biochar properties. Long-term field studies are needed to elucidate the persistence of BSA’s effect and the mechanisms for improving crop production in a wide range of agricultural conditions. At current prices and C-trading schemes, however, BSA would not be cost-effective unless persistent soil improvement and crop response can be demonstrated.

Redox potential (Eh) and pH as drivers of soil/plant/microorganism systems: a transdisciplinary overview pointing to integrative opportunities for agronomy

Abstract: Oxidation-reduction and acid–base reactions are essential for the maintenance of all living organisms. However, redox potential (Eh) has received little attention in agronomy, unlike pH, which is regarded as a master variable. Agronomists are probably depriving themselves of a key factor in crop and soil science which could be a useful integrative tool. This paper reviews the existing literature on Eh in various disciplines connected to agronomy, whether associated or not with pH, and then integrates this knowledge within a composite framework. This transdisciplinary review offers evidence that Eh and pH are respectively and jointly major drivers of soil/plant/microorganism systems. Information on the roles of Eh and pH in plant and microorganism physiology and in soil genesis converges to form an operational framework for further studies of soil/plant/microorganism functioning. This framework is based on the hypothesis that plants physiologically function within a specific internal Eh-pH range and that, along with microorganisms, they alter Eh and pH in the rhizosphere to ensure homeostasis at the cell level. This new perspective could help in bridging several disciplines related to agronomy, and across micro and macro-scales. It should help to improve cropping systems design and management, in conventional, organic, and conservation agriculture.

Nitrogen acquisition by roots: physiological and developmental mechanisms ensuring plant adaptation to a fluctuating resource

Abstract: Nitrogen (N) is one of the key mineral nutrients for plants and its availability has a major impact on their growth and development. Most often N resources are limiting and plants have evolved various strategies to modulate their root uptake capacity to compensate for both spatial and temporal changes in N availability in soil. The main N sources for terrestrial plants in soils of temperate regions are in decreasing order of abundance, nitrate, ammonium and amino acids. N uptake systems combine, for these different N forms, high- and low-affinity transporters belonging to multige families. Expression and activity of most uptake systems are regulated locally by the concentration of their substrate, and by a systemic feedback control exerted by whole-plant signals of N status, giving rise to a complex combinatory network. Besides modulation of the capacity of transport systems, plants are also able to modulate their growth and development to maintain N homeostasis. In particular, root system architecture is highly plastic and its changes can greatly impact N acquisition from soil. In this review, we aim at detailing recent advances in the identification of molecular mechanisms responsible for physiological and developmental responses of root N acquisition to changes in N availability. These mechanisms are now unravelled at an increasing rate, especially in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana L.. Within the past decade, most root membrane transport proteins that determine N acquisition have been identified. More recently, molecular regulators in nitrate or ammonium sensing and signalling have been isolated, revealing common regulatory genes for transport system and root development, as well as a strong connection between N and hormone signalling pathways. Deciphering the complexity of the regulatory networks that control N uptake, metabolism and plant development will help understanding adaptation of plants to sub-optimal N availability and fluctuating environments. It will also provide solutions for addressing the major issues of pollution and economical costs related to N fertilizer use that threaten agricultural and ecological sustainability.

Magnesium mobility in soils as a challenge for soil and plant analysis, magnesium fertilization and root uptake under adverse growth conditions

Abstract: Due to its unique chemistry magnesium (Mg) is subject to various cycling processes in agricultural ecosystems. This high mobility of Mg needs to be considered for crop nutrition in sustainable agricultural systems. The Mg mobility in soils and plants and its consequences for crop nutrition are understood, but recent findings in crop Mg uptake, translocation and physiology particularly under adverse growth conditions give new insights into the importance of Mg in crop production. The aim of this review is to combine the knowledge on the origin and mobility of Mg in soils with the role of Mg in plant stress physiology and recent evidence on the principles of crop Mg uptake. The question is addressed whether the progress made in Mg research, particularly on the role of Mg in stress physiology, makes a revision of the development of Mg fertilization recommendations necessary. New insights into Mg uptake and utilization but particularly into the role of Mg in increasing crop tolerance to various stresses indicate changes in the crop Mg demand under adverse growth conditions. Future work should incorporate these findings in optimization of site-specific balanced fertilization programs particularly under stress conditions.

Isolation of ACC deaminase producing PGPR from rice rhizosphere and evaluating their plant growth promoting activity under salt stress

Abstract: Aims Bacteria possessing ACC deaminase activity reduce the level of stress ethylene conferring resistance and stimulating growth of plants under various biotic and abiotic stresses. The present study aims at isolating efficient ACC deaminase producing PGPR strains from the rhizosphere of rice plants grown in coastal saline soils and quantifying the effect of potent PGPR isolates on rice seed germination and seedling growth under salinity stress and ethylene production from rice seedlings inoculated with ACC deaminase containing PGPR.

The production and turnover of extramatrical mycelium of ectomycorrhizal fungi in forest soils: role in carbon cycling

Abstract: There is growing evidence of the importance of extramatrical mycelium (EMM) of mycorrhizal fungi in carbon (C) cycling in ecosystems. However, our understanding has until recently been mainly based on laboratory experiments, and knowledge of such basic parameters as variations in mycelial production, standing biomass and turnover as well as the regulatory mechanisms behind such variations in forest soils is limited. Presently, the production of EMM by ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi has been estimated at similar to 140 different forest sites to be up to several hundreds of kg per ha per year, but the published data are biased towards Picea abies in Scandinavia. Little is known about the standing biomass and turnover of EMM in other systems, and its influence on the C stored or lost from soils. Here, focussing on ectomycorrhizas, we discuss the factors that regulate the production and turnover of EMM and its role in soil C dynamics, identifying important gaps in this knowledge. C availability seems to be the key factor determining EMM production and possibly its standing biomass in forests but direct effects of mineral nutrient availability on the EMM can be important. There is great uncertainty about the rate of turnover of EMM. There is increasing evidence that residues of EM fungi play a major role in the formation of stable N and C in SOM, which highlights the need to include mycorrhizal effects in models of global soil C stores.

Sodium as nutrient and toxicant

Abstract: Sodium (Na+) is one of the most intensely researched ions in plant biology and has attained a reputation for its toxic qualities. Following the principle of Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim (Paracelsus), Na+ is, however, beneficial to many species at lower levels of supply, and in some, such as certain C4 species, indeed essential. Here, we review the ion’s divergent roles as a nutrient and toxicant, focusing on growth responses, membrane transport, stomatal function, and paradigms of ion accumulation and sequestration. We examine connections between the nutritional and toxic roles throughout, and place special emphasis on the relationship of Na+ to plant potassium (K+) relations and homeostasis. Our review investigates intriguing connections and disconnections between Na+ nutrition and toxicity, and concludes that several leading paradigms in the field, such as on the roles of Na+ influx and tissue accumulation or the cytosolic K+/Na+ ratio in the development of toxicity, are currently insufficiently substantiated and require a new, critical approach.

The critical soil P levels for crop yield, soil fertility and environmental safety in different soil types

Abstract: Sufficient soil phosphorus (P) is important for achieving optimal crop production, but excessive soil P levels may create a risk of P losses and associated eutrophication of surface waters. The aim of this study was to determine critical soil P levels for achieving optimal crop yields and minimal P losses in common soil types and dominant cropping systems in China. Four long-term experiment sites were selected in China. The critical level of soil Olsen-P for crop yield was determined using the linear-plateau model. The relationships between the soil total P, Olsen-P and CaCl2-P were evaluated using two-segment linear model to determine the soil P fertility rate and leaching change-point. The critical levels of soil Olsen-P for optimal crop yield ranged from 10.9 mg kg−1 to 21.4 mg kg−1, above which crop yield response less to the increasing of soil Olsen-P. The P leaching change-points of Olsen-P ranged from 39.9 mg kg−1 to 90.2 mg kg−1, above which soil CaCl2-P greatly increasing with increasing soil Olsen-P. Similar change-point was found between soil total P and Olsen-P. Overall, the change-point ranged from 4.6 mg kg−1 to 71.8 mg kg−1 among all the four sites. These change-points were highly affected by crop specie, soil type, pH and soil organic matter content. The three response curves could be used to access the soil Olsen-P status for crop yield, soil P fertility rate and soil P leaching risk for a sustainable soil P management in field.

Modelling root–soil interactions using three–dimensional models of root growth, architecture and function

Abstract: Three–dimensional root architectural models emerged in the late 1980s, providing an opportunity to conceptualise and investigate that all important part of plants that is typically hidden and difficult to measure and study. These models have progressed from representing pre–defined root architectural arrangements, to simulating root growth in response to heterogeneous soil environments. This was done through incorporating soil properties and more complete descriptions of plant function, moving into the realm of functional-structural plant modelling. Modelling studies are often designed to investigate the relationship between root architectural traits and root distribution in soil, and the spatio–temporal variability of resource supply. Modelling root systems presents an opportunity to investigate functional tradeoffs between foraging strategies (i.e. shallow vs deep rooting) for contrasting resources (immobile versus mobile resources), and their dependence on soil type, rainfall and other environmental conditions. The complexity of the interactions between root traits and environment emphasises the need for models in which traits and environmental conditions can be independently manipulated, unlike in the real world. We provide an overview of the development of three–dimensional root architectural models from their origins, to their place today in the world of functional–structural plant modelling. The uses and capability of root architectural models to represent virtual plants and soil environment are addressed. We compare features of six current models, RootTyp, SimRoot, ROOTMAP, SPACSYS, R-SWMS, and RootBox, and discuss the future development of functional-structural root architectural modelling. Functional-structural root architectural models are being used to investigate numerous root–soil interactions, over a range of spatial scales. They are not only providing insights into the relationships between architecture, morphology and functional efficiency, but are also developing into tools that aid in the design of agricultural management schemes and in the selection of root traits for improving plant performance in specific environments.

Nitrogen dynamics following field application of biochar in a temperate North American maize-based production system

Abstract: Biochar additions to tropical soils have been shown to reduce N leaching and increase N use efficiency. No studies exist verifying reduced N leaching in field experiments on temperate agricultural soils or identifying the mechanism for N retention. Biochar derived from maize stover was applied to a maize cropping system in central New York State at rates of 0, 1, 3, 12, and 30 t ha-1 in 2007. Secondary N fertilizer was added at 100, 90, 70, and 50 % of the recommended rate (108 kg N ha-1). Nitrogen fertilizer enriched with 15 N was applied in 2009 to the 0 and 12 t ha-1 of biochar at 100 and 50 % secondary N application. Maize yield and plant N uptake did not change with biochar additions (p > 0.05; n = 3). Less N (by 82 %; p < 0.05) was lost after biochar application through leaching only at 100 % N fertilization. The reason for an observed 140 % greater retention of applied 15 N in the topsoil may have been the incorporation of added 15 N into microbial biomass which increased approximately three-fold which warrants further research. The low leaching of applied fertilizer 15 N (0.42 % of applied N; p < 0.05) and comparatively high recovery of applied 15 N in the soil (39 %) after biochar additions after one cropping season may also indicate greater overall N retention through lower gaseous or erosion N losses with biochar. Addition of biochar to fertile soil in a temperate climate did not improve crop growth or N use efficiency, but increased retention of fertilizer N in the topsoil.

The extent of mycorrhizal colonization of roots and its influence on plant growth and phosphorus content

Abstract: The most common metric of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) abundance is percent root length colonized (PRLC) by mycorrhizal structures. Frequently, plants with greater PRLC are assumed to receive more nutrients (such as phosphorus, P) from their mycorrhizal symbionts, leading to greater plant growth. Nevertheless, the functional significance of this metric remains controversial. In this review, I discuss whether manipulations of PRLC generally led to changes in plant biomass and P content, and whether AMF taxa and plant functional groups influence these relationships. I conducted a meta-analysis of laboratory- and field-based trials in which mycorrhizal colonization was directly altered compared to unmanipulated controls. For each trial, I calculated (1) the difference in PRLC (ΔPRLC) between the treatments, and (2) the response ratio of plant biomass. In a subset of these studies, the response ratio of P content of host plants could also be calculated. The response ratio of plant biomass and P content rose significantly and exponentially as ΔPRLC increased. Nevertheless, ΔPRLC explained only a fraction of the variation in response ratios in each case. Moreover, AMF taxa varied in their effects on biomass per unit ΔPRLC. In addition, plant functional groups differed in effects on plant P content per unit ΔPRLC, with C4 grasses responding most strongly. It appears that as the extent to which plant roots are colonized by AMF increases, plant growth and P content often increase, although substantial variability exists among trials. As others have found, a likely mechanism for this relationship is increased transfer of P (and perhaps other nutrients) through the more-prevalent mycorrhizal structures.

Alfalfa plant-derived biostimulant stimulate short-term growth of salt stressed Zea mays L. plants

Abstract: The effects of an alfalfa plant (Medicago sativa L.) hydrolysate-based biostimulant (EM) containing triacontanol (TRIA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) were tested in salt-stressed maize plants. Plants were grown for 2 weeks in the absence of NaCl or in the presence (25, 75 and 150 mM). On the 12th day, plants were supplied for 48 h with 1.0 mg L−1 EM or 11.2 μM TRIA. EM and TRIA stimulated the growth and nitrogen assimilation of control plants to a similar degree, while NaCl reduced plant growth, SPAD index and protein content. EM or TRIA increased plant biomass under salinity conditions. Furthermore, EM induced the activity of enzymes functioning in nitrogen metabolism. The activity of antioxidant enzymes and the synthesis of phenolics were induced by salinity, but decreased after EM treatment. The enhancement of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity and gene expression by EM was consistent with the increase of flavonoids. The present study proves that the EM increases plant biomass even when plants are grown under salinity conditions. This was likely because EM stimulated plant nitrogen metabolism and antioxidant systems. Therefore, EM may be proposed as bioactive product in agriculture to help plants overcome stress situations.

Plant-soil interactions in Mediterranean forest and shrublands: impacts of climatic change.

Abstract: In the Mediterranean climate, plants have evolved under conditions of low soil-water and nutrient availabilities and have acquired a series of adaptive traits that, in turn exert strong feedback on soil fertility, structure, and protection. As a result, plant-soil systems constitute complex interactive webs where these adaptive traits allow plants to maximize the use of scarce resources. It is necessary to review the current bibliography to highlight the most know characteristic mechanisms underlying Mediterranean plant-soil feed-backs and identify the processes that merit further research in order to reach an understanding of the plant-soil feed-backs and its capacity to cope with future global change scenarios. In this review, we characterize the functional and structural plant-soil relationships and feedbacks in Mediterranean regions. We thereafter discuss the effects of global change drivers on these complex interactions between plants and soil. The large plant diversity that characterizes Mediterranean ecosystems is associated to the success of coexisting species in avoiding competition for soil resources by differential exploitation in space (soil layers) and time (year and daily). Among plant and soil traits, high foliar nutrient re-translocation and large contents of recalcitrant compounds reduce nutrient cycling. Meanwhile increased allocation of resources to roots and soil enzymes help to protect against soil erosion and to improve soil fertility and capacity to retain water. The long-term evolutionary adaptation to drought of Mediterranean plants allows them to cope with moderate increases of drought without significant losses of production and survival in some species. However, other species have proved to be more sensitive decreasing their growth and increasing their mortality under moderate rising of drought. All these increases contribute to species composition shifts. Moreover, in more xeric sites, the desertification resulting from synergic interactions among some related process such as drought increases, torrential rainfall increases and human driven disturbances is an increasing concern. A research priority now is to discern the effects of long-term increases in atmospheric CO2 concentrations, warming, and drought on soil fertility and water availability and on the structure of soil communities (e.g., shifts from bacteria to fungi) and on patching vegetation and root-water uplift (from soil to plant and from soil deep layers to soil superficial layers) roles in desertification.

Transfer of rare earth elements (REE) from natural soil to plant systems: implications for the environmental availability of anthropogenic REE

Abstract: Rare Earth Elements (REE) are widely used to trace natural geochemical processes. They are also increasingly used by man (electronics industry, medicine, agriculture) and therefore considered as emerging pollutants. The present study documents REE mobility in non-polluted natural soil-plant systems in order to characterize their environmental availability for future anthropogenic pollution. The study is based on a field approach in non-polluted natural sites with contrasting geological environments (limestone, granite, and carbonatite) and highly variable REE contents. REE concentrations in soils do not directly reflect bedrock concentrations, but depend largely on pedogenetic processes and on the mineralogy of bedrock and soil. The soils of all sites are with respect to bedrock enriched in heavy REE. The REE uptake by plants is not primarily controlled by the plant itself, but depends on the concentration and the speciation in the soil and the adsorbed soil water pool. REE uptake by plant roots are linked with those of Fe. Roots absorb preferentially the light REE. Before translocation, REE are retained by the Casparian strip leading to much lower concentrations in the aerial parts. The transport of the REE within the xylem is associated with the general nutrient flux.

Physiological and molecular responses to magnesium nutritional imbalance in plants

Abstract: Magnesium (Mg) is pivotal for many biochemical and physiological processes in plants. Mg biological functions include a key role in photosynthesis, in protein synthesis, as well as in nucleotide metabolism. However, Mg nutrition of plants remains little examined compared with other essential elements. The review summarizes the current knowledge on physiological targets of Mg imbalances. Recently generated transcriptome profiles in response to Mg shortage and excess are also presented. Sugar accumulation in source leaves is a major consequence of Mg shortage that can limit plant growth most probably by down regulation of photosynthesis activity. Newly identified molecular targets of Mg imbalance are appraised in relation to their potential contribution to Mg deficiency phenotypic emergence. In particular a potential role of the circadian clock and change in phytohormones concentration and/or signalling in the orchestration of the Mg deficiency response is possible. The development of markers for incipient Mg deficiency appears to be a challenging task.

Impact of biochar application on nitrogen nutrition of rice, greenhouse-gas emissions and soil organic carbon dynamics in two paddy soils of China

Abstract: Two field microcosm experiments and 15N labeling techniques were used to investigate the effects of biochar addition on rice N nutrition and GHG emissions in an Inceptisol and an Ultisol. Biochar N bioavailability and effect of biochar on fertilizer nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) were studied by 15N-enriched wheat biochar (7.8803 atom% 15N) and fertilizer urea (5.0026 atom% 15N) (Experiment I). Corn biochar and corn stalks were applied at 12 Mg ha−1 to study their effects on GHG emissions (Experiment II). Biochar had no significant impact on rice production and less than 2 % of the biochar N was available to plants in the first season. Biochar addition increased soil C and N contents and decreased urea NUE. Seasonal cumulative CH4 emissions with biochar were similar to the controls, but significantly lower than the local practice of straw amendment. N2O emissions with biochar were similar to the control in the acidic Ultisol, but significantly higher in the slightly alkaline Inceptisol. Carbon-balance calculations found no major losses of biochar-C. Low bio-availability of biochar N did not make a significantly impact on rice production or N nutrition during the first year. Replacement of straw amendments with biochar could decrease CH4 emissions and increase SOC stocks.

The significance of magnesium for crop quality

Abstract: The quality of agricultural and horticultural products and its modulation by fertilization has increasingly received attention. However, whereas the importance of magnesium (Mg) as an essential plant nutrient is well established, the impact of Mg nutrition on quality parameters has only been rarely addressed. This review aims at evaluating the available knowledge on the influence of Mg on produce quality. A short discussion on the term quality as used in this review is followed by an overview of the various functions of Mg in plant metabolism in relation to quality aspects. Finally, the available literature on Mg-associated effects on crop quality is critically surveyed. The question whether Mg application beyond yield optimum further improves crop quality is specifically addressed. Increasing Mg supply on Mg-deficient sites tends to increase the quality of agricultural crops, particularly when the formation of quality traits is dependent on Mg-driven photosynthesis and assimilate translocation within the plant. In fruits and vegetables, ratios of Mg to other nutrients like Ca and K were shown to be a more reliable indicator of the quality response than the Mg status alone. Moreover, it is concluded that Mg doses beyond those required for maximum yield rarely induce a further improvement of produce quality.

Hydrogen sulfide alleviates aluminum toxicity in barley seedlings

Abstract: Aluminum (Al) toxicity is one of the major factors that limit plant growth. Low concentration of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been proven to function in physiological responses to various stresses. The objective of this study is to investigate the possible role of H2S in Al toxicity in barley (Hordeum vulgare L) seedlings. Barley seedlings pre-treated with sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a H2S donor, and subsequently exposed to Al treatment were studied for their effects on root elongation, Al accumulation in seedlings, Al-induced citrate secretion and oxidative stress, and plasma membrane (PM) H+-ATPase expression. Our results showed that H2S had significant rescue effects on Al-induced inhibition of root elongation which was correlated well with the decrease of Al accumulation in seedlings. Meanwhile, Al-induced citrate secretion was also significantly enhanced by NaHS pretreatment. Al-induced oxidative stress as indicated by lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species burst was alleviated by H2S through the activation of the antioxidant system. Moreover, Al-induced reduction in PM H+-ATPase expression was reversed by exogenous NaHS. Altogether, our results suggest H2S plays an ameliorative role in protecting plants against Al toxicity by inducing the activities of antioxidant enzymes, increasing citrate secretion and citrate transporter gene expression, and enhancing the expression of PM H+-ATPase.

C:N:P stoichiometry in Australian soils with respect to vegetation and environmental factors

Abstract: We estimate organic carbon (C): total nitrogen (N): total phosphorus (P) ratios in soils under Australia’s major native vegetation groups. We use digital datasets for climate, soils, and vegetation created for the National Land and Water Resources Audit in 2001. Analysis-of-variance is used to investigate differences in nutrient ratios between ecosystems. Linear discriminant analysis and logistic regression are used to investigate the relative importance of climatic variables and soil nutrients in vegetation patterns. We find that the N:P and C:P ratios have a greater range of values than the C:N ratio, although major vegetation groups tend to show similar trends across all three ratios. Some apparently homeostatic groupings emerge: those with very low, low, medium, or high N:P and C:P. Tussock grasslands have very low soil N, N:P, and C:P, probably due to frequent burning. Eucalypt woodlands have low soil N:P and C:P ratios, although their total P level varies. Rainforests and Melaleuca forests have medium soil N:P and C:P ratios, although their total P level is different. Heathlands, tall open eucalypt forests, and shrublands occur on soils with low levels of total P, and high N:P and C:P ratios that reflect foliar nutrient ratios and recalcitrant litter. Certain plant communities have typical soil nutrient stoichiometries but there is no single Redfield-like ratio. Vegetation patterns largely reflect soil moisture but for several plant communities, eucalypt communities in particular, soil N and P (or N:P) also play a significant role. Soil N:P and the presence of Proteaceae appear indicative of nutrient constraints in ecosystems.

Fine-root turnover rates of European forests revisited: an analysis of data from sequential coring and ingrowth cores

Abstract: Forest trees directly contribute to carbon cycling in forest soils through the turnover of their fine roots. In this study we aimed to calculate root turnover rates of common European forest tree species and to compare them with most frequently published values. We compiled available European data and applied various turnover rate calculation methods to the resulting database. We used Decision Matrix and Maximum-Minimum formula as suggested in the literature. Mean turnover rates obtained by the combination of sequential coring and Decision Matrix were 0.86 yr−1 for Fagus sylvatica and 0.88 yr−1 for Picea abies when maximum biomass data were used for the calculation, and 1.11 yr−1 for both species when mean biomass data were used. Using mean biomass rather than maximum resulted in about 30 % higher values of root turnover. Using the Decision Matrix to calculate turnover rate doubled the rates when compared to the Maximum-Minimum formula. The Decision Matrix, however, makes use of more input information than the Maximum-Minimum formula. We propose that calculations using the Decision Matrix with mean biomass give the most reliable estimates of root turnover rates in European forests and should preferentially be used in models and C reporting.

Soil microbial biomass and the fate of phosphorus during long-term ecosystem development

Abstract: Soil phosphorus availability declines during long-term ecosystem development on stable land surfaces due to a gradual loss of phosphorus in runoff and transformation of primary mineral phosphate into secondary minerals and organic compounds. These changes have been linked to a reduction in plant biomass as ecosystems age, but the implications for belowground organisms remain unknown. We constructed a phosphorus budget for the well-studied 120,000 year temperate rainforest chronosequence at Franz Josef, New Zealand. The budget included the amounts of phosphorus in plant biomass, soil microbial biomass, and other soil pools. Soil microbes contained 68–78 % of the total biomass phosphorus (i.e. plant plus microbial) for the majority of the 120,000 year chronosequence. In contrast, plant phosphorus was a relatively small pool that occurred predominantly in wood. This points to the central role of the microbial biomass in determining phosphorus availability as ecosystems mature, yet also indicates the likelihood of strong competition between plants and saprotrophic microbes for soil phosphorus. This novel perspective on terrestrial biogeochemistry challenges our understanding of phosphorus cycling by identifying soil microbes as the major biological phosphorus pool during long-term ecosystem development.

The continuum concept remains a useful framework for studying mycorrhizal functioning

Abstract: Recent studies have questioned the validity of the mutualism-parasitism continuum of mycorrhizal function. This paper re-evaluates the continuum model and analyzes these concerns. Three insights arise from this analysis. First, the continuum model defines mycorrhizal function as an emergent property of complex interactions. The model identifies resource trade and symbiotic control as key determinants of the costs and benefits of the symbiosis for plants and fungi, and the interaction of these factors with the environment ultimately controls mycorrhizal function. Second, analysis of carbon costs and phosphorus benefits is too narrow a focus to accurately predict mycorrhizal function. Analysis of plant and fungal fitness responses in ecologically and evolutionarily relevant systems are required to elucidate the full range of nutritional and non-nutritional factors embodied within mycorrhizal functioning. Finally, the definition of the term ‘parasitism’ has evolved. Some fields of science maintain the original definition of a nutritional relationship between host and parasite while other fields define it as a +/- fitness relationship. This has generated debate about whether the continuum of mycorrhizal functioning should properly be called a positive–negative response continuum or a mutualism-parasitism continuum. This controversy about semantics should be resolved, but it does not overturn the continuum concept.

Testing the ability of visual indicators of soil burn severity to reflect changes in soil chemical and microbial properties in pine forests and shrubland

Abstract: Aims Areas affected by wildfire comprise spatially complex mosaics of burned patches in which a wide range of burn severities coexist. Rapid diagnosis of the different levels of soil burn severity and their extents is essential for designing emergency post-fire rehabilitation treatments. The main objective of this study was to determine whether visual signs of soil burn severity levels are related to changes in soil chemical and microbial properties immediately after fire.

Mycorrhizas and mycorrhizal fungal communities throughout ecosystem development

Abstract: Plant communities and underlying soils undergo substantial, coordinated shifts throughout ecosystem development. However, shifts in the composition and function of mycorrhizal fungi remain poorly understood, despite their role as a major interface between plants and soil. We synthesise evidence for shifts among mycorrhizal types (i.e., ectomycorrhizas, arbuscular and ericoid mycorrhizas) and in fungal communities within mycorrhizal types along long-term chronosequences that include retrogressive stages. These systems represent strong, predictable patterns of increasing, then declining soil fertility during ecosystem development, and are associated with coordinated changes in plant and fungal functional traits and ecological processes. Mycorrhizal types do not demonstrate consistent shifts through ecosystem development. Rather, most mycorrhizal types can dominate at any stage of ecosystem development, driven by biogeography (i.e., availability of mycorrhizal host species), plant community assembly, climate and other factors. In contrast to coordinated shifts in soil fertility, plant traits and ecological processes throughout ecosystem development, shifts in fungal communities within and among mycorrhizal types are weak or idiosyncratic. The consequences of these changes in mycorrhizal communities and their function for plant–soil feedbacks or control over long-term nutrient depletion remain poorly understood, but could be resolved through empirical analyses of long-term soil chronosequences.

Application of ground penetrating radar for coarse root detection and quantification: A review

Abstract: Background and Scope Because of the crucial role coarse roots (>2 mm diameter) play in plant functions and terrestrial ecosystems, detecting and quantifying the size, architecture, and biomass of coarse roots are important. Traditional excavation methods are labor intensive and destructive, with limited quantification and repeatability of measurements over time. As a nondestructive geophysical tool for delineating buried features in shallow subsurface, ground penetrating radar (GPR) has been applied for coarse root detection since 1999. This article reviews the state-of-knowledge of coarse root detection and quantification using GPR, and discusses its potentials, constraints, possible solutions, and future outlooks. Some useful suggestions are provided that can guide future studies in this field.

The effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on the growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cropped in southern Brazilian fields

Abstract: Background and Aims Several strains of rhizobacteria may be found in the rhizospheric soil, on the root surface or in association with rice plants. These bacteria are able to colonize plant root systems and promote plant growth and crop yield through a variety of mechanisms. The objectives of this study were to isolate, identify, and characterize putative plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) associated

The phosphorus concentration of common rocks—a potential driver of ecosystem P status

Abstract: Background Soil phosphorus (P) availability can be an important regulator of ecosystem processes Changes in P availability over time have long been studied, but the P concentration of soil parent materials—which determines ecosystem P concentration at the onset of soil formation—have never been systematically explored Hereweask two questions:1)how doesP concentration vary among soil parent materials? and 2) under what range of conditions do those differences influence soil P concentration? Methods We used the Earthchem webportal to compile the P concentration of 263,539 rocks We then gathered data from 62 sites (MAT ranging from 200– 5,000 mmyr -1 and soil age from 03–4,100 ky) and

Biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) activity in sorghum and its characterization

Abstract: The ability to suppress soil nitrification through the release of nitrification inhibitors from plant roots is termed ‘biological nitrification inhibition’ (BNI) Here, we aimed at the quantification and characterization of the BNI function in sorghum that includes inhibitor production, their chemical identity, functionality and factors regulating their release Sorghum was grown in solution culture and root exudate was collected using aerated NH4Cl solutions A bioluminescence assay using recombinant Nitrosomonas europaea was employed to determine the BNI activity Activity-guided chromatographic fractionation was used to isolate biological nitrification inhibitors (BNIs) The chemical structure was analyzed using NMR and mass spectrometry; pH-stat systems were deployed to analyze the role of rhizosphere pH on BNIs release Sorghum roots released two categories of BNIs: hydrophilic- and hydrophobic-BNIs The release rates for hydrophilic- and hydrophobic- BNIs ranged from 10 to 25 ATU g−1 root dwt d−1 Addition of hydrophilic BNIs (10 ATU g−1 soil) significantly inhibited soil nitrification (40 % inhibition) during a 30-d incubation test Two BNI compounds isolated are: sakuranetin (ED80 06 μM; isolated from hydrophilic-BNIs fraction) and sorgoleone (ED80 130 μM; isolated from hydrophobic-BNIs fraction), which inhibited Nitrosomonas by blocking AMO and HAO enzymatic pathways The BNIs release required the presence of NH 4 + in the root environment and the stimulatory effect of NH 4 + lasted 24 h Unlike the hydrophobic-BNIs, the release of hydrophilic-BNIs declined at a rhizosphere pH >50; nearly 80 % of hydrophilic-BNI release was suppressed at pH ≥70 The released hydrophilic-BNIs were functionally stable within a pH range of 50 to 90 Sakuranetin showed a stronger inhibitory activity (ED50 02 μM) than methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate (MHPP) (ED50 100 μM) (isolated from hydrophilic-BNIs fraction) in the in vitro culture-bioassay, but the activity was non-functional and ineffective in the soil-assay There is an urgent need to identify sorghum genetic stocks with high potential to release functional-BNIs for suppressing nitrification and to improve nitrogen use efficiency in sorghum-based production systems

The role of magnesium in plant disease

Abstract: Magnesium (Mg), as an essential mineral element for plants and microbes, can have both indirect as well as direct effects on disease. Balanced nutrition is critical for the expression of disease resistance since nutrition is part of a delicately balanced interdependent system influenced by the plant’s genetics and the environment. A deficiency or excess of Mg can influence a wide range of physiologic functions because of these interrelated processes. There are fewer reports of direct effects of Mg deficiency or excess on plant disease than for many elements because of its participation in a wide spectrum of general physiological functions so that individual activities involved in defense, virulence, or pathogenesis are not as easily characterized. The ability of Mg to compliment or antagonize other minerals can result in different disease responses to Mg under varying environmental conditions. Fusarium wilt pathogens tend to be less severe when adequate Mg is available, and Mg increases resistance of tissues to degradation by some pectolytic enzymes of macerating or soft rotting pathogens. In contrast, high rates of Mg that interfere with Ca uptake may increase the incidence of diseases such as bacterial spot of tomato and pepper or peanut pod rot. The more general physiological benefits of Mg for active growth often obscure specific mechanisms involved in resistance to disease, although Mg is an important contributor to over-all plant health. A specific mechanism of defense to diseases enhanced by Mg includes increased resistance of tissues to degradation by pectolytic enzymes of bacterial soft rotting pathogens. Management of Mg nutrition to reduce disease, in balance with other minerals, is an underutilized tool for disease control.