The impact of protozoa on the availability of bacterial nitrogen to plants

Summary Microbial N from ¹⁵N-labelled bacterial biomass was investigated in a microcosm experiment, in order to determine its availability to wheat plants. Sterilized soil was inoculated with either bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa alone or with a suspension of a natural bacterial population from the soil) or bacteria and protozoa to examine the impact of protozoa. Plant biomass, plant N, soil inorganic N and bacterial and protozoan numbers were determined after 14 and 35 days of incubation. The protozoa reduced bacterial numbers in soil by a factor of 8, and higher contents of soil inorganic N were found in their presence. Plant uptake of N increased by 20010 in the presence of protozoa. Even though the total plant biomass production was not affected, the shoot: root ratios increased in the presence of protozoa, which is considered to indicate an improved plant nutrient supply. The presence of protozoa resulted in a 65010 increase in mineralization and uptake of bacterial ¹⁵N by plants. This effect was more pronounced than the protozoan effect on N derived from soil organic matter. It is concluded that grazing by protozoa strongly stimulates the mineralization and turnover of bacterial N. The mineralization of soil organic N was also shown to be promoted by protozoa.Communication No. 9 of the Dutch Programme on Soil Ecology of Arable Farming Systems     

Protozoan predation and the turnover of soil organic carbon and nitrogen in the presence of plants

Summary The impact of protozoan grazing on the dynamics and mineralization of ¹⁴C- and ¹⁵N-labelled soil organic material was investigated in a microcosm experiment. Sterilized soil was planted with wheat and either inoculated with bacteria alone or with bacteria and protozoa or with bacteria and a 1:10 diluted protozoan inoculum. ¹⁴C–CO₂ formation was continuously monitored. It served as an indicator of microbial activity and the respiration of soil organic C. The activity of protozoa increased the turnover of ¹⁴C-labelled substrates compared to soil without protozoa. The accumulated ¹⁴C–CO₂ evolved from the soils with protozoa was 36% and 53% higher for a 1:10 and for a 1:1 protozoan inoculum, respectively. Protozoa reduced the number of bacteria by a factor of 2. In the presence of protozoa, N uptake by plants increased by 9% and 17% for a 1:10 and a 1:1 protozoan inoculum, respectively. Both plant dry matter production and shoot: root ratios were higher in the presence of protozoa. The constant ratio of ¹⁵N: ¹⁴⁺¹⁵N in the plants for all treatments indicated that in the presence of protozoa more soil organic matter was mineralized. Bacteria and protozoa responded very rapidly to the addition of water to the microcosms. The rewetting response in terms of the ¹⁴C–CO₂ respiration rate was significantly higher for 1 day in the absence and for 2 days in the presence of protozoa after the microcosms had been watered. It was concluded that protozoa improved the mineralization of N from soil organic matter by stimulating the turnover of bacterial biomass. Pulsed events like the addition of water seem to have a significant impact on the dynamics of food-chain reactions in soil in terms of C and N mineralization.Communication No. 19 of the Dutch Programme on Soil Ecology of Arable Farming Systems     

Effects of plants on net mineralization of nitrogen in forest soil microcosms

Summary The effects of plant roots on net N mineralization were examined by comparing soil microcosms with and without plants. Additionally, inorganic N amendments were used to test for competition for N between plants and microorganisms. Daily watering and the application of suction to microcosms eliminated the effects of transpiration on soil moisture content. Monthly litter collections reduced the influence of the aboveground portions of plants. Plants decreased net N mineralization by 23% during days 0–114 and then increased net mineralization by the same amount during days 144–124. Root-free soil collected from with-plant microcosms on day 244 evolved 24% more CO₂ in laboratory incubations than soil from without-plant microcosms. This indicates that plants had increased substrate availability to soil microorganisms. Inorganic N amendments had no significant effects on the microcosms or on laboratory soil incubations. Evidence is most consistent with the hypothesis that plant roots increased microbial activity due to the increased substrate availability. Different net N mineralization rates probably resulted from changes in the substrate C : N ratio.     

Growth and Phosphorus Uptake of Oat (Arena nuda L.) as Affected by Mineral Nitrogen Forms Supplied in Hydroponics and Soil Culture

Plants show different growth responses to N sources supplied with either NH4+ or NO3-.The uptake of different N sources also affects the rhizosphere pH and therefore the bioavailability of soil phosphorus,particularly in alkaline soils.The plant growth,P uptake,and P availability in the rhizosphere of oat (Arena nuda L.) grown in hydroponics and in soil culture were investigated under supply with sole NH4+-N,sole NO3--N,or a combination.Sole NO3-fed oat plants accumulated more biomass than sole NH4+-fed ones.The highest biomass accumulation was observed when N was supplied with both NH4+-N and NO3--N.Growth of the plant root increased with the proportion of NO3-in the cultural medium.Better root growth and higher root/shoot ratio were consistently observed in NO3--fed plants.However,root vigor was the highest when N was supplied with NO3-+NH4+.NH4+ supply reduced the rhizosphere pH but did not affect P uptake by plants grown in soils with CaHPO4 added as P source.No P deficiency was observed,and plant P concentrations were generally above 2 g kg-1.P uptake was increased when N was supplied partly or solely as NO3--N,similarly as biomass accumulation.The results suggested that oat was an NO3-prcferring plant,and NO3--N was essential for plant growth and the maintenance of root absorption capacity.N supply with NH4+-N did not improve P nutrition,which was most likely due to the absence of P deficiency.     

水培和土培条件下氮素供应对燕麦生长和磷素吸收的影响

Plants show different growth responses to N sources supplied with either NH₄⁺ or NO₃^-. The uptake of different N sources also affects the rhizosphere pH and therefore the bioavailability of soil phosphorus, particularly in alkaline soils. The plant growth, P uptake, and P availability in the rhizosphere of oat (Avena nuda L.) grown in hydroponics and in soil culture were investigated under supply with sole NH₄⁺-N, sole NO₃^--N, or a combination. Sole NO₃^--fed oat plants accumulated more biomass than sole NH₄⁺-fed ones. The highest biomass accumulation was observed when N was suppliedw ith both NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^--N. Growth of the plant root increased with the proportion of NO₃^- in the cultural medium. Better root growth and higher root/shoot ratio were consistently observed in NO₃^--fed plants. However, root vigor was the highest when N was supplied with NO₃^-+NH₄⁺. NH₄⁺ supply reduced the rhizosphere pH but did not affect P uptake by plants grown in soils with CaHPO₄ added as P source. No P deficiency was observed, and plant P concentrations were generally above 2 g kg^-1. P uptake was increased when N was supplied partly or solely as NO₃^--N, similarly as biomass accumulation. The results suggested that oat was an NO₃^--preferring plant, and NO₃^--N was essential for plant growth and the maintenance of root absorption capacity. N supply with NH₄⁺-N did not improve P nutrition, which was most likely due to the absence of P deficiency.     

Effect of Phosphorus in Alleviation of Adverse Impacts of Salinity on Wheat Grown on Different Soils

Fertilization management is an important technique to alleviate the adverse effects of salinity stress on plants. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative role of inorganic phosphorus (P) and organic P sources on wheat grown under salt stress in three soil types deficient in available P. Wheat (Triticum asetivum L. cv. Shakha 93) was grown on alluvial, sandy, and calcareous soils under salinity levels of 4, 8, and 12 dS m^?1 of saturated paste extract (EC_e) and supplied with constant rate of 30 mg P₂O₅ kg soil^?1 as superphosphate (SP), cattle manure (CM), and 1:1 mixture of SP and CM. The results revealed that plants grown on the sandy soil were more susceptible to the adverse effects of salinity compared with those planted on the alluvial one, especially at zero P. Plants grown on the calcareous soil were moderately affected. Varying soil type caused significant differences in the aboveground biomass and uptake of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), P, and zinc (Zn). It was obvious that P ameliorated wheat growth under salt stress, and this role was greater under moderate and high salinity. The increases in N, P, K, and Zn uptake appeared driven by P application were more conspicuous in the sandy and calcareous soils. Results also indicated that combined application of inorganic and organic P sources surpassed both when applied solely under all soil types and salinity levels.     

Interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus intraradices,Glomeromycota) and amoebae (Acanthamoeba castellanii,Protozoa) in the rhizosphere of rice (Oryza sativa)

Rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) were grown in microcosms containing soil with a diverse bacterial community (control) and inoculated either with an axenic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus intraradices) or an axenic inoculum of protozoan grazers of bacteria (Acanthamoeba castellanii), or both, in a factorial design.Amoebae and mycorrhiza affected the root architecture of rice in opposite directions, with mycorrhiza reducing and protozoa increasing early root growth. Rice biomass did not increase in presence of mycorrhiza (×1.08), but strongly increased in presence of Acanthamoebae (×1.29). The positive effects of amoebae were always reduced when plants were also infected with mycorrhiza. Microbial biomass increased (×1.4) and microbial growth was less limited by phosphorus in presence of mycorrhiza. However, plant phosphorus uptake did not increase, rather, plant concentrations of carbon and nutrients decreased in presence of mycorrhiza, suggesting a sequestration of resources during the establishment of a mycorrhizal network. Amoebae strongly interacted with, and partly compensated for, the effects of mycorrhiza, demonstrating that interactions between AM fungi and the microbial food web in the rhizosphere significantly feed back on early plant performance.     

The influence of two agricultural biostimulants on nitrogen transformations, microbial activity, and plant growth in soil microcosms

The influence of two experimental soil treatments, Z93 and W91, on nitrogen transformations, microbial activity and plant growth was investigated in soil microcosms. These compounds are commercially marketed fermentation products (Agspectrum) that are sold to be added to field soils in small amounts to promote nitrogen and other nutrient uptake by crops in USA. In laboratory microcosm experiments, soils were amended with finely ground alfalfa-leaves or wheat straw, or left unamended, in an attempt to alter patterns of soil nitrogen mineralization and immobilization. Soils were treated in the microcosms with Z93 and W91 at rates equivalent to the recommended field application rates, that range from 0.2 to 1.1 l ha⁻¹, (0.005-0.03 μl g⁻¹ soil). We measured their effects on soil microbial activity (substrate-induced respiration (SIR), dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and acid phosphatase activity (PHOS)), soil nitrogen pools (microbial biomass N, mineral N, dissolved organic N), and transformations (net N mineralization and nitrification, ¹⁵N dilution of the mineral N pool, and accumulation of mineral N on ion-exchange resins), and on wheat plant germination and growth (shoot and root biomass, shoot length, N uptake and ¹⁵N enrichment of shoot tissues), for up to 56 days after treatment. To follow the movement of nitrogen from inorganic fertilizer into plant biomass we used a ¹⁵N isotopic tracer. Most of the soil and plant responses to treatment with Z93 or W91 differed according to the type of organic amendment that was used. Soil treatment with either Z93 or W91 influenced phosphatase activity strongly but did not have much effect on SIR or DHA. Both chemicals altered the rates of decomposition and mineralization of organic materials in the soil, which was evidenced by significant increases in the rates of the decomposition of buried wheat straw, and by the acceleration of net, rates of N mineralization, relative to those of the controls. Soil nitrate availability increased at the end of the experiment in response to both chemical treatments. In alfalfa-amended soils, the final plant biomass was decreased significantly by treatment with W91. Increased plant growth and N-use efficiency in straw-amended soil, resulting from treatments with Z93 or W91, was linked to increased rates of N mineralization from indigenous soil organic materials. This supports the marketing of these compounds as promoters of N uptake at these low dosage inputs.     

Uptake of soil nitrogen by soybean as influenced by symbiotic N2-fixation or fertilizer nitrogen supply

Nodulated and N₂-fixing soybean plants (Glycine max. L.) grown in a pot experiment took up significantly more soil N (labelled with ¹⁵N) than non-nodulated control plants. The organic matter in the experimental soil was labelled with ₁₅N during a previous incubation, and the pool of labelled inorganic N originated mainly from mineralization of organic matter. Addition of non-labelled ammonium or nitrate-N to non-nodulated plants did not increase their uptake of labelled soil N. Plants grown with the various N-sources exhausted the soil for KCl-extractable N to almost the same low concentration. Where non-nodulated plants were grown, 60–75% of the inorganic N initially present could be accounted for in plants and KCl-extracts at harvest. An amount corresponding to 98% of the KCl-extractable N initially present was found in nodulated plants and the pool of KCl-extractable N.     

Nutrient uptake and growth of potato: Arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis interacts with quality and quantity of amended biochars

Aims : The aim of this study was to explore interactive effects between quality (types) and quantity (application rates) of biochar as well as of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis on the growth of potato plants. Methods : A low P sandy loam soil was amended with 0%, 1.5%, or 2.5% (w/w) of either of 4 types of biochar, which were produced from wheat straw pellets (WSP) or miscanthus straw pellets (MSP) pyrolyzed at temperatures of either 550°C or 700°C. Potato plants grown in pots containing the soils or soil biochar mixture were inoculated with or without AM fungus (AMF), Rhizophagus irregularis. The experiment was carried out under fully irrigated semi‐field conditions and plants were harvested 101 days after planting. Results : Application of high temperature biochar decreased growth, biomass and tuber yield of potato plants, while the low temperature biochar had a similar effect on yield as plants grown without biochar amendment. Total biomass of potato plants were decreased with the increasing rate of biochar. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus inoculation stimulated the growth of potato plants in all organs, increased tuber biomass significantly in 1.5% MSP700 amended plants, and to a lesser degree for WSP700, MSP550, and WSP550. In addition, plant biomass gain was linearly related to N, P, and K uptake, the ratio of P to N in the leaf of plants indicated that all treatments were mainly P‐limited. A multiple linear regression using P uptake and biochar rate as independent variables explained 91% of the variation in total biomass. The single effect of AMF inoculation, type and rate of biochar affected plant N, P and K uptake similarly. While AMF inoculation significantly increased P uptake in potato plants grown in soil with WSP700 or MSP700 despite of the rate of biochar. In general, application of biochar significantly increased AMF root colonization of potato plants. Conclusions : The application of MSP550 at 1.5% combined with AMF stimulated growth of potato the most. Furthermore, the results indicated that the interactive effect of AMF inoculation, biochar type and application rate on potato growth to a large extent could be explained by effects on plant nutrient uptake.     

Influence of mulch C/N ratio and decomposition stage on plant N uptake and N availability in soil with or without wheat straw

Mulches can improve soil properties, but little is known about nutrient availability in mulched soil that contains plant residues and the effect of mulching with manures. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of mulching with high or low C/N organic materials, in which low C/N materials differed in decomposability, and the presence of wheat straw in the soil on plant growth and N uptake, soil N availability and microbial biomass N within about four months after mulching. Three organic materials were used: mature wheat straw (W, C/N 80), young faba bean shoots (FB, C/N 7), and sheep manure (SM, C/N 8). There were eight treatments differing in amendment methods (mulching or mixing with W or both) and mulching materials (W, FB or SM). Treatments that were only mulched with W, FB or SM are referred to as m‐treatments. In m/s‐treatments, after W was mixed into the soil, W, FB or SM were placed on the soil surface as mulch. Two other treatments included an unamended control and soil mixed with W. Wheat was planted 0, 35 or 70 days after mulching (referred to as 0, 35, and 70 DAM) and grown for 35 days. Faba bean mulch increased shoot dry weight, shoot N uptake and available N compared to wheat or sheep manure mulch, particularly in the m‐treatments. Shoot dry weight was higher in m‐treatments than corresponding m/s‐treatments with the same mulch type. Shoot N uptake was higher in 70 DAM than in 0 DAM in all treatments and 0.3 to three‐fold higher in m‐treatments than the corresponding m/s‐treatments. Microbial biomass N was higher in 0 DAM than in 35 and 70 DAM in most treatments and up to two‐fold higher in m/s‐treatments than the corresponding m‐treatments. Available N in m/s‐treatments was two to six‐fold higher than m‐treatments in 0 DAM, but differed little in older mulch ages of W and SM. It can be concluded that compared to soil with only mulch, mixing of wheat straw into soil reduced plant growth and N uptake, particularly in the early stages of mulching (0 and 35 DAM). However, the presence of wheat in mulched soil may provide a longer lasting source of N for plants and reduce the risk of N leaching from rapidly decomposing low C/N mulch due to greater microbial biomass N uptake than only soil with mulch.     

Antimony Accumulation in Wheat Seedlings Grown in Soil and Water

The purposes of the research were (1) to estimate the ability of wheat Triticum aestivum L. to uptake antimony (Sb) from contaminated soil and water, (2) to study effects of Sb bioaccumulation on the plant development and distribution of macro- and trace elements in the plants, and (3) to compare uptake of Sb and some other elements by wheat seedlings grown in solid (soil) and liquid (water) media. Both soil-grown and water-grown plants were capable of accumulating large amounts of Sb. In roots, concentration of Sb was always greater than in leaves, suggesting that roots can prevent transfer of the trace element to upper plant parts. Uptake of Sb by the plants grown in water was significantly greater compared to Sb uptake by the plants grown in soil. Antimony bioaccumulation resulted in variations in concentrations of some nutrients in different plant parts and decrease of the seedling biomass.     

Impacts of trace amounts of labile C on plant N limitation vary from hour to week timescales

The ability of terrestrial ecosystems to store carbon (C) under rising atmospheric CO₂ will depend on how severely nitrogen (N) will limit plant growth. We tested whether increased C availability in the soil at elevated CO₂ could affect N limitation by inducing N release from soil organic matter (SOM). We established microcosms composed of Holcus lanatus plants, field soil (containing “old” SOM) and ¹⁵?N-labeled plant litter (representing “new” SOM), simulated different levels of root C release by adding a single pulse of 0, 18, 44, or 175?μg glucose C?g^?1 dry soil and recorded the effects on soil microbial biomass, microbial-feeding protozoa and nematodes and plant performance 1, 3, 9, and 32?days after C addition. The effects on H. lanatus growth and N uptake depended on the amount of added C and the time elapsed since addition. Shoot N concentration and N content were higher in pots amended with 44?μg?C g^?1 soil than in other pots 1?day after C addition. Later, 9 and 32?days after C addition, the highest glucose addition reduced the dry mass, N concentration, and N content of H. lanatus shoots in comparison to other treatment levels. Microbial biomass was generally higher in soils subjected to 44?μg glucose C?g^?1 soil than in control soils, and, at the last harvest, the numbers of protozoa were significantly higher in all soils with glucose amendments than in control soils. No effects on microbial-feeding nematodes were found, and plant N uptake from “old” and “new” SOM was equally affected by C addition. Our results seem to suggest that, while a low pulse of labile C can increase plant N uptake temporarily on an hour scale, higher amounts of C will intensify plant N limitation at timescales of days and weeks. Generalization of such dose and time dependent results requires great caution, but if verified in other plant–soil systems as well, they would suggest that plant N availability under elevated C availability may depend on the balance between positive and negative effects operating at different timescales and triggered by additional C pulses of varying size.     

Resistance of bacterial communities in the potato rhizosphere to disturbance and its application to agroecology

Soil bacteria have the ability to increase agricultural sustainability through the production of biopesticides and biofertilizers. Application of bacteria to field crops often results in sporadic colonization and unpredictable crop performance. This research sought to understand the colonization of the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) rhizosphere using reciprocal transplants. Plants were grown in a forest or an agricultural soil and then transplanted into either the same soil or the opposite soil. Bacterial communities were profiled using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) and analyzed using pairwise comparisons. The results revealed that the bacterial community that colonized the rhizosphere in the first soil remained mostly intact for 30 days after the plants were transplanted into another soil in which the soil bacteria community differed from that found in the original soil. The concept that it may be possible to establish a functional microbiota and to deliver it to an agricultural environment was tested. A nitrogen-fixing bacterial community was established on plants grown under tissue culture conditions and the plants were transplanted into a field soil. Plants inoculated with eight separate nitrogen-fixing communities showed an average fivefold increase in dry biomass when compared to mock-inoculated plants and the microbial profiles remained distinct at 30 days after transplantation. These results demonstrate that the plant rhizosphere is a resistant community and that the first bacterial community that becomes established on the root remains with the plant even when the plant is placed into soil with a vastly different microbiota.     

Nitrogen Uptake,Leaf Nitrogen Concentration,and Growth of Saskatoons in Response to Soil Nitrogen Fertility

ABSTRACT

Nutrient requirements of the saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia: Rosaceae), a relatively new horticultural crop on the Canadian prairies, are unknown. In this study, two-year old saskatoon plants of the cultivar ‘Smoky’ were grown in a greenhouse in pots under four different soil nitrogen (N) regimes (20, 40, 60, and 80 mg N L^?1). Half the plants were harvested after one growing season. After a five-month period of dormancy, the remaining plants were grown for a second growing season under the same soil N regimes. At harvest, plant growth, dry weight biomass, and leaf N concentration were measured, and soil N uptake was calculated. In both years, leaf N concentration and plant N uptake were strongly positively correlated (first year r = 0.93; second year r = 0.95) and increased linearly with an increase in soil N. Stem diameter and new shoot growth increased in both years of the study in response to additional N. The soil N treatments had no significant effect on plant biomass during the first growing season. In the second year, stem, root, total shoot and total plant biomass increased with increasing soil N.     

Yield and nitrogen use efficiency of wheat increased with root length and biomass due to nitrogen,phosphorus, and potassium interactions

Balanced applications of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are known to increase grain yield of wheat but the impact of the interactions among N, P, and K on root growth and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) have not been proven. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of balanced applications of N, P, and K on the rooting patterns and NUE of wheat. Two glasshouse experiments were conducted. A rhizobox study was used to assess the impact of interactions among N, P, and K fertilisers on total root length, biomass, specific root length, root length density, N use efficiency (NUE), and N uptake efficiency of the shoots (NUpE_shoot) and N nutrition index. In a separate pot study, plants were grown to maturity to confirm the effect of the observed changes in root growth on NUE, NUpE_grain, and grain/biomass yield. In the rhizobox experiment when plants were supplied with N+P+K, total root biomass increased approximately six‐fold relative to plants grown with N alone or with no fertiliser. Plants exposed to N+P+K had NUpE_shoot and NUE values that were five and ten times higher, respectively, than plants that received just fertiliser N. Plants supplied with N+P or N+P+K had N nutrition indices close to one (N‐adequate), while plants that only received N had an index of 0.62 (N‐deficient). The pot study confirmed that the changes in root length and biomass in plants exposed to N+P+K resulted in significant increases in NUE, NUpE_grain, shoot biomass, and grain yield at maturity. Interactions among fertiliser N, P, and K played a critical role in influencing root biomass and length, which was associated with increases in NUE, NUpE_shoot and NUpE_grain.     

柳枝稷生物炭对来自不同地区的两种土壤上植物生物量和微生物动态的影响

Biochar amendments to soils may alter soil function and fertility in various ways, including through induced changes in the microbial community. We assessed microbial activity and community composition of two distinct clayey soil types, an Aridisol from Colorado (CO) in the U.S. Central Great Plains, and an Alfisol from Virginia (VA) in the southeastern US following the application of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) biochar. The switchgrass biochar was applied at four levels, 0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10%, approximately equivalent to biochar additions of 0, 25, 50, and 100 t ha^-1, respectively, to the soils grown with wheat (Triticum aestivum) in an eight-week growth chamber experiment. We measured wheat shoot biomass and nitrogen (N) content and soil nutrient availability and N mineralization rates, and characterized the microbial fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles of the soils. Net N mineralization rates decreased in both soils in proportion to an increase in biochar levels, but the effect was more marked in the VA soil, where net N mineralization decreased from -2.1 to -38.4 mg kg^-1. The 10% biochar addition increased soil pH, electrical conductivity, Mehlich- and bicarbonate-extractable phosphorus (P), and extractable potassium (K) in both soil types. The wheat shoot biomass decreased from 17.7 to 9.1 g with incremental additions of biochar in the CO soil, but no difference was noted in plants grown in the VA soil. The FAME recovery assay indicated that the switchgrass biochar addition could introduce artifacts in analysis, so the results needed to be interpreted with caution. Non-corrected total FAME concentrations indicated a decline by 45% and 34% with 10% biochar addition in the CO and VA soils, respectively, though these differences became nonsignificant when the extraction efficiency correction factor was applied. A significant decline in the fungi:bacteria ratio was still evident upon correction in the CO soil with biochar. Switchgrass biochar had the potential to cause short-term negative impacts on plant biomass and alter soil microbial community structure unless measures were taken to add supplemental N and labile carbon (C).     

Evidence for a transient increase of rhizodeposition within one and a half day after a severe defoliation of Plantago arenaria grown in soil

Plants are often grazed resulting in a sudden and significant removal of shoot tissue, which decreases photosynthesis and changes C allocation between within the plant. From results obtained in percolated sand it is possible to demonstrate an increase of rhizodeposition within few days after defoliation followed by a decrease of rhizodeposition. The aim of our study was to test if this pattern can be also observed for plants grown in soil. We grew Plantago arenaria in microcosms and defoliated half of them after 45 d. Half of the defoliated and non-defoliated microcosms were harvested 1.5 d, and the other half 8.5 d, after defoliation. We observed an increase of microbial biomass 1.5 d after defoliation followed by a decrease assessed 8.5 d after the treatment. In parallel, soil soluble C and the metabolic quotient of the microbial biomass first decreased and then increased at the second harvest reaching values equivalent to those of the non-defoliated treatment. Based on these results together with results obtained in artificial soil, we conclude that the defoliation of P. arenaria grown in soil leads to a transient peak of root exudation.     

Growth and nitrogen fixation by Medicago littoralis in pot experiments: Effect of plant density and competition from Lolium multiflorum

The legume Medicago littoralis cv. Harbinger, was grown either alone (1–4 plants per pot) or with Lolium multiflorum (ryegrass) at a total of 4 plants per pot, using two soils of contrasting N status. An ¹⁵N dilution technique was used to distinguish the amounts of plant N due to N₂ fixation and to N uptake from soil. Medic outyielded (dry weight and total plant N) ryegrass in a soil which released low amounts of inorganic N (Roseworthy) but ryegrass outyielded medic in a soil of higher N availability (Avon).For both soils, all combinations of medic and ryegrass plants utilized 70–73% of the inorganic N released on incubation. Competition from ryegrass invariably reduced yields of dry matter, total N, and fixed N of the medic plants, especially in the Avon soil. For both soils, the percentage reduction in the amounts of fixed N resulting from competition from ryegrass was directly proportional to the percentage increase of plant dry matter due to ryegrass. Medic plants grown in Roseworthy soil contained much higher proportions of N due to N₂-fixation than did medic plants grown in Avon soil. The amounts of plant N, fixed N and plant dry weight increased with increasing numbers of medic plants, when grown alone in Roseworthy soil, but not in the Avon soil containing more than two plants per pot. Nevertheless, irrespective of the soil used, medic numbers per pot, or competition from ryegrass, the amounts of fixed N correlated well with total N and with dry matter yields of medic plants. The proportions of fixed N to total N varied consistently in each of the medic plant parts (roots < = leaves < stems < pods).     

Tree girdling provides insight on the role of labile carbon in nitrogen partitioning between soil microorganisms and adult European beech

Nitrogen (N) cycling in terrestrial ecosystems is complex since it involves the closely interwoven processes of both N uptake by plants and microbial turnover of a variety of N metabolites. Major interactions between plants and microorganisms involve competition for the same N species, provision of plant nutrients by microorganisms and labile carbon (C) supply to microorganisms by plants via root exudation. Despite these close links between microbial N metabolism and plant N uptake, only a few studies have tried to overcome isolated views of plant N acquisition or microbial N fluxes. In this study we studied competitive patterns of N fluxes in a mountainous beech forest ecosystem between both plants and microorganisms by reducing rhizodeposition by tree girdling. Besides labile C and N pools in soil, we investigated total microbial biomass in soil, microbial N turnover (N mineralization, nitrification, denitrification, microbial immobilization) as well as microbial community structure using denitrifiers and mycorrhizal fungi as model organisms for important functional groups. Furthermore, plant uptake of organic and inorganic N and N metabolite profiles in roots were determined.Surprisingly plants preferred organic N over inorganic N and nitrate (NO₃⁻) over ammonium (NH₄⁺) in all treatments. Microbial N turnover and microbial biomass were in general negatively correlated to plant N acquisition and plant N pools, thus indicating strong competition for N between plants and free living microorganisms. The abundance of the dominant mycorrhizal fungi Cenococcum geophilum was negatively correlated to total soil microbial biomass but positively correlated to glutamine uptake by beech and amino acid concentration in fine roots indicating a significant role of this mycorrhizal fungus in the acquisition of organic N by beech. Tree girdling in general resulted in a decrease of dissolved organic carbon and total microbial biomass in soil while the abundance of C. geophilum remained unaffected, and N uptake by plants was increased. Overall, the girdling-induced decline of rhizodeposition altered the competitive balance of N partitioning in favour of beech and its most abundant mycorrhizal symbiont and at the expense of heterotrophic N turnover by free living microorganisms in soil. Similar to tree girdling, drought periods followed by intensive drying/rewetting events seemed to have favoured N acquisition by plants at the expense of free living microorganisms.