Aims We investigated N2-fixation by moss-cyanobacterial associations in a North American prairie ecosystem, identifying cyanobacteria associated with moss species, and evaluating spatio-temporal dynamics in N2-fixation rates. Methods We confirmed the presence and abundance of N2-fixing cyanobacteria on three moss species (Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt., Racomitrium elongatum Frisvoll, Rhytidiadelphus

Aim (1) To understand the tree root-soil interaction under lateral and moment loading using a physical modelling technique; (2) To detect the possible factors (e.g. root architecture, water condition, and stress level) influencing a tree’s push-over behaviour; (3) To identify suitable scaling laws to use in physical modelling. Methods Two 1:20 scaled root models with different architectures (namely

Background and aims The deposition of atmospheric N is expected to increase in the future; however, our understanding of the responses of C:N stoichiometry to N deposition in plants, soil, and microorganisms remains elusive. We aim to explore the general patterns and mechanisms of terrestrial C:N stoichiometry to N addition. Methods We present a global meta-analysis based on 827 paired observations

Aims Root exudates of soybean grown under low-, normal-, and high-K+ conditions were evaluated using metabolomics. Methods Two soybean cultivars, ‘Satonohohoemi’ (low-K-tolerant) and ‘Tachinagaha’ (low-K sensitive), were hydroponically grown with 6 (K6), 60 (K60), and 120 (K120) mg K L−1 for 7 and 14 days after transplanting (DAT). Root exudates were collected, and metabolites were evaluated using

Background and aims Intensification of savannah land-use is predicted to negatively influence soil biodiversity and functioning such as litter decomposition by detritivores. Loss of macrodetritivores, particularly termites, may be problematic in drier savannahs due to the capacity of macrodetritivores to sustain litter decomposition. Here we investigate how human land-use and spatiotemporal rainfall

Background and aims The relationship between wheat root exudates and watermelon rhizosphere microbial communities in wheat/watermelon cropping system is well documented now, however, less is known about the activity of allelochemicals in wheat root exudates against watermelon Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON), and how it may influence belowground plant-microbe interactions for disease control

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The authors would like to add Andreas Kemna as the fifth author of this paper. The updated list of authors as well as the complete affiliation is presented in this correction article.

The enigma of soil nitrogen balance sheets originally described by Allison in 1955 has endured for 65 years. Originally the accounting showed a positive balance between N gains and losses, which indicated a failure to measure all losses, widely suspected of being gaseous N emissions. Measurement of organic, inorganic and gaseous N forms derived from 15N-enriched nitrate added to soils under both anaerobic

Aims The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by soil microbes modulated plant growth and development. Floccularia luteovirens, an edible mushroom, is beneficial to the growth of alpine meadow plants on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We aimed to elucidate the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the mushroom fungal VOC-mediated plant growth and development. Methods Here, we investigated

Aims This research aimed to establish how Hordeum vulgare responds to abiotic and biotic stress affecting in tandem. Methods Plants were inoculated with Heterodera filipjevi and treated with cadmium (Cd) concentration (5 μM) that can occur in the cultivated soil. To verify the hypothesis about participation of increased antioxidative defence in H. vulgare under stress, biochemical and microscopic methods

Background and aims Microbial communities play an important regulatory role in soil carbon and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Most studies on microbial communities and biogeochemical cycling focus on surface soils (0–20 cm). However, relatively little is known about how structure and functioning of microbial communities shift with depth in a soil profile, which is crucial to understand

Aims Conventional agriculture promotes negative feedbacks of soil microbes on crop performance (plant soil feedbacks, PSFs) by stimulating species-specific pathogens. Crop traits, modified by domestication, also influence PSFs. Therefore, we asked if crop cultivars and their wild progenitors promote soil pathogens and mutualists differently, and thus trigger different PSFs. Methods We studied PSFs

Aim Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for plant growth. A modified up-down two-compartment system, with the addition of 15N-labelled wheat straw in the hyphal compartment (HC), was set up to investigate the effects of vermicompost and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on improving 15N mineralisation from wheat straw and uptake by lettuce. Methods Lettuce yield, the 15N contents of shoots and roots

Aims Tropical perennial grasses that can rapidly establish deep roots have a greater potential to survive soil surface drying sooner after establishment. This research aimed to identify species that establish deep roots quickly and to investigate the mechanisms that drove rapid vertical root development. Methods Perennial grass species Brachiaria brizantha, Brachiaria decumbens, Brachiaria humidicola

Aims Vertical fine-root distribution determines the potential for acquisition of resources throughout soil profiles; yet, variation among forest types and changes in vertical distribution with environments are poorly understood. We examined vertical root distributions of different forest communities to determine how belowground strategies shift across different forest types and along edaphic gradients

Background and aims Root-released carboxylates enhance the availability of manganese (Mn), which enters roots through transporters with low substrate specificity. Leaf Mn concentration ([Mn]) has been proposed as a signature for phosphorus (P)-mobilising carboxylates in the rhizosphere. Here we test whether leaf [Mn] provides a signature for root functional types related to P acquisition. Methods Across

Aims In 2012, Italian kiwifruit orchards were hit by a serious root disease of unknown aetiology (kiwifruit decline, KD) that still causes extensive damage to the sector. While waterlogging was soon observed to be associated with its outbreak, the putative role of soil microbiota remains unknown. This work investigates the role of these two factors in the onset of the disease. Methods Historical rainfall

Background and aims Ganoderma boninense causes basal stem rot disease of oil palm, a serious problem in many countries producing crude palm oil. Ganoderma penetrates host cells by producing cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs) and its mycelia trigger defense responses in the host plant. The soil physicochemical properties affect plant growth and soil microbes. Only limited knowledge is available on

Aims Consequences of climate change and land use intensification on the nitrogen (N) cycle of organic-matter rich grassland soils in the alpine region remain poorly understood. We aimed to identify fates of fertilizer N and to determine the overall N balance of an organic-matter rich grassland in the European alpine region as influenced by intensified management and warming. Methods We combined 15N

Background First discovered on desert plants by Volkens 1887, rhizosheath formation, i.e. soil aggregation at the root surface, is now considered as a very promising adaptive trait to deal with abiotic stress. Indeed, the rhizosheath could help plants better cope with water stress, nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies, and soil acidity. Scope We have reviewed studies on the biological factors involved

Aims Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.) is a crucial medicinal herb as it accumulates glycyrrhizin and liquiritin in roots. Licorice root-associated bacterial communities shaped by soil characteristics are supposed to regulate the accumulation of root secondary metabolites. Methods The soil characteristics, root secondary metabolites, and root-associated bacterial communities were analyzed in

Aims This research investigated the effects of woody plant identity and season on soil physicochemical properties and microbiological function in the semi-arid Zagros forest, one of the old-growth semi-arid oak forests in the world. Methods Soil sampling was conducted beneath the canopy of six woody (tree and shrub) species in spring and winter. Microbial variables analysed included soil basal respiration

Aims We tested whether arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) community might shift as host plant generations advance under a low phosphorus (P) soil. Methods Two greenhouse experiments were conducted using Medicago truncatula as the host plant, six AMF species, and two soil P levels. Experiment 1 assessed changes in AMF composition in roots and soil during five generations of host plant grown in low-P

Aims Plant diversity and coverage on the basidiomycete fungus Floccularia luteovirens fairy rings are higher than those outside of the fairy rings, indicating a favorable role of F. luteovirens in the growth of alpine meadow plants on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. However, the underlying physiological and molecular mechanisms of F. luteovirens-mediated plant growth and environmental adaptation remain

Aims Carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in soil are characterized by decreasing patterns with soil depth. However, these patterns and their driving factors have rarely been investigated in shrublands. Methods We conducted extensive sampling of the top 100 cm of soil in 1120 shrublands across China to measure the soil organic C (SOC), total N (STN) and total P (STP) concentrations and densities

Aims We simultaneously quantified the fate of soil absorbed mineral nitrogen in different tree compartments along with nitrogen immobilization by microorganisms during spring in 20-year-old oak trees. Methods A soil-applied 15N solution was traced in situ into the fine roots, medium roots, xylem, phloem, branches, leaves, extractable soil, and microbial biomass before and after budburst, until LAI

Aim Knowledge on vegetation water sources is crucial to understand the ecohydrological processes and ecological management of arid and semi-arid ecosystems. The identification and quantification of plant water uptake from precipitation, soil and groundwater remain challenging along large climatic gradient. Methods Stable oxygen isotope compositions of xylem water, soil water and groundwater were analyzed

Aims The present study provides an insight on physiological parameters and root-associated microbiome of two complementary Arabidopsis thaliana culture systems suitable for physiological studies. Methods A. thaliana plants were grown in rhizobox and in classic pot culture. An analysis of plant growth parameters along with the characterization of the bacterial communities of the compost and the rhizosphere

Aim Selenium (Se) can induce stress in plants. Our main purpose is to assess the effect of a biostimulant, based on hetero-polyoxometalates mixed with humic acids, on Se bio-fortified wheat plants. Secondly, to evaluate a possible modification of the Se species in the plant tissues and to investigate the response of phytohormones. Method Wheat plants were grown hydroponically and exposed to either

Aims Soils represent the natural habitat of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). When moving in soil, EPNs are oriented to follow a chemical signal (chemotaxis). Cannabis sativa L. is known to secrete a very wide spectrum of secondary metabolites. Ethanol extracts (EE) of different C. sativa L. organs were used to study the effect on EPN chemotaxis. Methods The root, leaf and inflorescence EE of two

Background and aims Crop species differ in phosphorus (P) acquisition in P-limiting environments. However, it is not fully understood how elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations affects these P acquisition mechanisms and the plant's ability to acquire P from soil. This study aimed to investigate the effect of elevated CO2 on P acquisition in crop species with contrasting P acquisition mechanisms. Methods

Aims The sub-Antarctic cushion plant, Azorella selago, is usually hemispherical when small but frequently crescent-shaped when larger. Spatial variation in wind speed and in air-borne seed and sediment deposition is examined to determine if wind scouring and deposition patterns could contribute to the development of non-hemispherical shapes in cushion plants. Methods Computational fluid dynamic analyses

Aims This study investigated the influence of soil properties and plant age on the water use pattern of Bambusa rigida at different distances from a river during the dry season. Methods The oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions (δ18O and δ2H) of soil water and culm water in B. rigida forests from sites located at different distances from a river (site A: beside the river with high air moisture;

Aims To examine the legacy of pasture drill rows sown to various configurations of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.), on soil chemical characteristics and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in the year following pasture removal. Methods A field experiment comparing 10 pasture species combination treatments conducted

Aims Root dynamics plays a fundamental role in determining carbon allocation and other main ecological processes in grasslands. Understanding the responses of root activities to ongoing warming in grazed alpine meadows enable us to predict the potential changes in the carbon budget and ecosystem functions in alpine regions. Methods We conducted a controlled 4-year field experiment with warming and

Background and Aims Plant-parasitic nematodes are able to sense and respond to gradients of chemical signals. How pH and inorganic salts in the rhizosphere affect nematode accumulation and host-seeking is poorly understood. We investigate the response of different groups of plant-parasitic nematodes to pH and salt concentration gradients. Methods Responses of infective juveniles (J2) of the economically

Aims Knowledge on the ecophysiology of cobalt hyperaccumulator species is limited. The nickel hyperaccumulator Rinorea cf. bengalensis from Borneo can accumulate high concentrations of cobalt in nature. This study investigates the cobalt accumulation potential of Rinorea cf. bengalensis in relation to nickel concentrations in soils and the subsequent tissue and cellular-level distributions of cobalt

Aims Any grouping of tree species concerned with SOC sequestration should include trees that are as homogeneous as possible in their carbon sequestration. We propose a classification of tree species into deciduous broadleaf, evergreen broadleaf, deciduous conifer and evergreen conifer and assess the validity of such classification. Methods We conducted a quantitative review of 264 observations from

Aims The Sub-Boreal Pine-Spruce xeric-cold (SBPSxc) biogeoclimatic region in British Columbia, Canada is characterized by weakly-developed soils, thin organic forest floor and limited plant-available nitrogen. Yet, lodgepole pine trees are thriving in this region unaffected by these nitrogen-limitations, which led us to hypothesize that endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacteria could be playing a potential

Background and Aims Epichloë endophytes are a unique model system for the study of the linkages between organisms above and belowground in ecosystems. However, the impact of Epichloë gansuensis in Achnatherum inebrians on soil enzymes activity and soil nutrients remains poorly understood. Methods Achnatherum inebrians with (E+) and without E. gansuensis (E−) were established in different plots of an

Aims For a metal hyperaccumulator plant Sedum alfredii, the recruitment of unique rhizospheric bacterial communities from bulk soils has been well studied. However, in the root-soil interface, the knowledge on the establishment of endospheric microbiomes from rhizospheric soil is still scarce. Methods In this study, we combined culture-independent that was 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and culture-dependent

Aim Cereal-legume intercropping can result in yield gains compared to monocrops. We aim to identify the combination of crop traits and management practices that confer a yield advantage in strip intercropping. Methods We developed a novel, parameter-sparse process-based crop growth model (Minimalist Mixture Model, M3) that can simulate strip intercrops under well-watered but nitrogen limited growth

Aims Plant growth in the Arctic is often nutrient limited due to temperature constraints on decomposition and low atmospheric input of nitrogen (N). Local hotspots of nutrient enrichment found in up to 4000-year-old archaeological deposits can be used to explore the recycling and long-term retention of nutrients in arctic ecosystems. Methods We investigated old Inuit and Norse deposits (known as middens)

Aims (main purpose and research question) Soil properties, including microbial composition and nutrient availability, can influence the emissions of plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that serve as host-location cues for insect pests and their natural enemies. Agricultural practices have profound effects on soil properties, but how these influence crop VOCs remains largely unknown. The aim of

Aims Lead is a hazardous heavy metal pollutant present in the environment, and iron is an essential micronutrient with numerous cellular functions in normal physiology. However few studies have focused on the influence and interaction of lead and iron changes during plant growth. So the present study investigated the mechanism how lead and iron affected in upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) in order to

Aims Nutrient addition is a widely-used strategy to restore degraded grasslands. It remains unknown whether and how the number of added nutrients affects the soil nematode community in degraded grasslands. Methods We examined the immediate responses of taxonomic and functional composition of the soil nematode community to different numbers of added nutrients using factorial combinations of nitrogen

Background and aims Litter decomposition is a fundamental process of biogeochemical cycles and particularly sensitive to global change. However, the overall effects of warming, elevated carbon dioxide and changed precipitation regime on litter decomposition are not well studied. Methods To assess the effects of these three common global change factors on litter decomposition, we performed a meta-analysis

Background and aims Ginsenosides are the main bioactive components of Panax plants which could be secreted by root and show autotoxicity to root cells or promote the growth of soil-borne pathogens. However, comprehensive understanding of the effect of ginsenosides on soil microbiota is still lacking. Methods The ginsenosides in root exudates of P. notoginseng were quantified and exogenous ginsenosides

Aims This study examines how inoculation with live soil influences the assembly of the endosphere microbiome of leaves and roots of chrysanthemum. Methods Sterilized soil was inoculated with 10% soil in which grasses had grown. Chrysanthemum was planted in these soils and control plants were grown in 100% sterilized soil. All plants were exposed to thrips, and leaves and roots were collected from inoculated

Aims Magnesium (Mg) deficiency is detrimental to plant growth. However, how plants respond to Mg deficiency via regulation of Mg uptake and allocation is yet not fully understood. In this study, we tested whether Mg isotope compositions (δ26Mg) associated with Mg mass balance of the plants could be used as an indicator to trace Mg uptake and subsequent translocation processes under sufficient and low-Mg

Background Soil organic matter (SOM) supports multiple soil ecosystem functions, underpinned by processes such as C sequestration, N mineralization, aggregation, promotion of plant health and compound retention. We know little about the relationship between these functions and SOM quality. Scope We aimed to develop “eco-functionality” as a framework to address questions on the relation between SOM

Aims Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can enhance cadmium (Cd) tolerance and decrease Cd uptake of rice plant. However, in these processes, the essential role of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-antioxidants interactions is so far not investigated. Methods We inoculated AMF, Funneliformis mosseae (Fm) and Rhizophagus intraradices (Ri), to upland rice subjected to 0, 2 or 10 mg Cd kg−1 in soil. ROS,

Aims Silicon (Si) has been shown to beneficially affect plant performance under stressful environmental conditions, such as water or nutrient deficiency. Here we tested the effects of two important plant nutrients, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), on Si content in different plant organs in the grass species Holcus lanatus. Methods We studied trait responses to N limitation, balanced nutrient availability

Background and aims Taxus chinensis var. mairei is a rare tree endemic to China. Pseudomonas fluorescens CLW17 and Bacillus cereus CLY07 were isolated from the T. chinensis var. mairei rhizosphere and the two strains were efficient phosphate-solubilizing bacteria. We investigated the effect of inoculation with P. fluorescens CLW17 and B. cereus CLY07 on soil enzyme activity, growth and the rhizosphere

Background and aims Spatially separated aboveground (AG) and belowground (BG) herbivores can affect each other and alter plant growth and defense, although the outcome of AG-BG herbivore interactions may vary with herbivore type (specialists versus generalists). Here, we explored how AG and BG specialists and generalists interacted on different plant genotypes. Methods We subjected native and introduced

Aims Crop genotypes may respond differently to various physical soil conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the responses of the root architectures of two maize cultivars (Zhengdan958 and Denghai605) to various soil compaction and moisture conditions. Methods Two compaction levels (1.3 g cm− 3 and 1.6 g cm− 3) and two moisture conditions (60% and 80% field capacity) were investigated

Background In the almost century since the establishment of boron (B) as an essential plant nutrient, its roles in plant growth and development have been identified, and the mechanism for B transportation explained. Scope This review relates the yield response of crops, measured as B efficiency i.e. productivity when B is limiting relative to when it is not, to the B supply logistics and requirement

Aims Global change is shown to significantly affect the C storage function of peatlands; however, a majority of previous research is focused on a single environmental stressor such as the increased temperature. As a result, little is known about the interactive effect of multiple environmental stressors on peatland C storage, especially in sedge-dominated fen peatlands. Methods We performed a full

Background Despite the high phosphorus (P)-mobilizing capacity of legumes, little is known about the dynamics of the P fractions and bacterial communities in the rhizosphere of legumes in karst soils. Methods A field experiment was established to investigate P uptake, rhizosphere P fractions and bacterial community structure of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in response to P fertilization (0 and

The following article is part of the Special Issue “Agroforestry: a belowground perspective” Guest Edited by Rémi Cardinael, Zhun Mao, Claire Chenu, Philippe Hinsinger and was inadvertently published in a different issue