Aims Soil microbiomes and their interactions with crop plants are important drivers of agricultural health and productivity. Our objective was to examine short-term responses of soil microbiota to agricultural management (i.e. cover cropping and nitrogen fertilization). Methods Following three years of cropping, soil samples were collected from replicated field plots at two southern Minnesota field

Aim The effects of residue type and distribution, soil moisture and NO3− availability were investigated in 43 days laboratory incubations (15 °C) on emissions of N2O, CO2, and for some treatments NO and NH3. Methods Two crop residues were considered (red clover, RC, and winter wheat, WW), and they were either mixed with topsoil, placed as a discrete layer in soil, or no addition. Soil NO3− was either

Background Submerged soils are globally important both in natural and agricultural ecosystems and cover 5–7% of the global land surface. Therefore, processes in submerged soils are important for global biogeochemical cycles. These processes are strongly influenced by oxygen availability, i.e. redox potential. Scope This review aims to provide an overview of the role of redox potential in nutrient cycling

Background and aims Zinc (Zn) deficiency in humans is of worldwide concern and is primarily associated with a plant-based diet of crops grown in Zn-deficient soils. This work explores the effects of both soil factors and genotype on Zn accumulation in aboveground tissues in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Methods A meta-analysis was performed on collected articles data published between 1945-2020 describing

Aims Specific soil bacteria can sense and respond to the selective rhizosphere recruitment of root exudates using unique systems of chemotaxis that mediate plant-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions. This study investigates how the bacterial chemotaxis systems have been impacted by selection during the domestication of rice (Oryza species). Methods Shotgun metagenomic sequencing and 16S rRNA gene

Aims Agroforestry systems and legume sowing have been reported as efficient in terms of soil function, gaining momentum as environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. This paper examines how the soil microbial community of Mediterranean pastures responds to legume-enrichment. Methods We used phospholipid fatty acids profiling (PLFA) to measure microbial community composition, community-level

Aims Plants with a history of overgrazing show trait-mediated legacy effects. These legacy effects strongly influence the growth dynamics and stress tolerance of plants, thus affecting ecosystem functioning. Long-term overgrazing has dramatic effects on plant growth and carbon assimilation via asexual propagation. However, the link between nitrogen (N) absorbability and assimilation with grazing-induced

Aims Mowing is a common management practice in grassland ecosystems. However, how mowing affects fine root dynamics remains poorly explored. Methods A field experiment was conducted to study how mowing influences root dynamics in artificial and natural grasslands for three consecutive years with root-window method. Results Root production among the treatments varied from 312 to 681 m m−2 each year

Purpose Plant belowground storage traits are important for mediating environmental stress, but their role in response to water availability and their coordination with above-ground traits is largely unknown. We predicted a coordination of conservative above- and belowground traits and preferential storage of water-soluble carbohydrates in the drier grassland and acquisitive traits and preferential

Aims Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is applied to the soil to increase the nutrient level and plant productivity, but the effects of N addition on the soil microbial community diversity and functions are unclear. This study aimed to determine how changes in soil N influence soil microbial community diversity and potential functions. Methods We evaluated plant characteristics, soil chemical properties, microbial

Although there is increasing awareness of the potential role of organic N compounds (ON) in plant nutrition, its implications for soil organic matter (SOM) stabilization have hardly been discussed yet. The aim of this paper is therefore to gather the newest insights into plant use of high molecular mass organic N, its effect on root growth and anatomy, and finally, to discuss the implications of plant

Aims The relationships between nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) acquisition strategies among herbaceous legume species remain poorly understood, particularly in relation to how they are altered by N availability. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between N2 fixation, plant N concentration and P acquisition through two main strategies in temperate herbaceous legumes, and to demonstrate

Purpose Planting strategies can be effective mechanisms to reduce diffuse pollution from agricultural catchments reaching water bodies. Plants with antimicrobial properties such as mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) demonstrated in controlled conditions the ability to inhibit nitrification and growth of pathogens in soils. This potential in a real on-farm setting was still to be investigated. Methods

Background Defining the long-term effects of liquid dairy manure (LDM) applied by a recommended low emission method is important to ensure sustainable grass production and dairy operations. We used natural abundance δ15N and conventional measurements in a long term field experiment to better understand the long-term fate of N applied as LDM, mineral fertilizer (MIN) and both (ALT). Methods We investigated

Aims Invasive plants not only alter aboveground biodiversity but also belowground microbial community composition to facilitate their growth and competitiveness. However, how plant invasion affects soil microbial resource limitation and metabolic activity, and their linkages with litter and soil stoichiometries remain largely unknown. Methods We investigated the carbon (C): nitrogen (N): phosphorus

Abstract Aims We explored the trends in soil fungal and bacterial patterns and their responses to plant and soil characteristics with increasing site age in abandoned farmland in karst areas. Methods Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA and ITS genes was used to characterize the soil bacterial and fungal diversities in farmland, farmland abandoned for 3, 6, 20, and 40 years, and old-growth forests in Southwest

Background and aims We assessed biomass variability and uptake of major and trace elements in different plant families of steppe landscapes under conditions of the geochemical properties of soils and the climatic parameters variability. The data obtained will contribute to a better understanding of the geochemical function of plants in steppes, which is crucial for predicting the response of landscapes

Purpose Mung bean is a host of the root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus thornei (Sher & Allen) and the beneficial symbionts arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and nitrogen-fixing Bradyrhizobium bacteria. The purpose of this research was to investigate interactions among these organisms affecting their reproduction and functional impact on mung bean nodulation, nutrition, biological nitrogen fixation,

Purpose Investigating soil nitrogen (N) cycling to evaluate inorganic N supply can guide land resource utilization. In this study, four typical land uses including grassland, Eucalyptus, corn, and pitaya plantations were chosen in a karst desertification area, all of which are the main plants in the local area. The corn and pitaya plantations experienced greater human disturbance than the grassland

Background and aims Most litter decomposition experiments are early term (less than three years) studies. Unfortunately, early and late terms have different decomposition rates due to different chemical compositions and climatic conditions. Therefore, long-term (more than 5 years) experiments are needed to improve our understanding of decomposition dynamics and unique impacts of different litters.

Background and aims Root rot is a catastrophic disease of perennial medicinal plants which could be caused by various soil-borne fungal pathogens. However, the understanding of the composition and diversity of root rot pathogenic fungi, their successions and potential drivers remains limited. Methods Sanqi ginseng (Panax notoginseng) was selected as a model plant and the rhizosphere soils of root rot-infected

Aims Viable seeds in herbivore dung constitute the dung seed bank, and the contribution of livestock dung to this seed bank in grazing pastures is often overlooked. Grazing season (warm and cold), seed characteristics (size and shape), and forage preference are the main factors that affect the size and composition of the dung seed bank and ultimately affect grassland ecology. However, how these three

Background Soil salinity is a severe environmental stress, limiting plant growth and sustainable agriculture. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and Epichloë gansuensis endophyte can be used to alleviate the adverse effects of soil salinization, promote plant growth and improve resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Aims The present study was conducted to investigate the diversity of culturable

Aims The increasing global demand for sustainably-produced crops has led to a renewed interest in exploiting unprocessed rocks as soil amendments and fertilizers. Carbonatite rocks are of particular relevance because of their rapid weathering rates and diverse nutrient contents. However, there are insufficient data to support or refute their efficacy and to understand their mechanism(s) of action.

Aim Agronomic biofortification of fruit with iodine (I) has become an innovative approach in contemporary agriculture. In this study, we evaluated the influence of soil- and foliar I applications on absorption of this nutrient by apple (Malus domestica Borth.) trees, as well as on growth and yield responses of the plants. Methods In 2018–2019, ‘Red Jonaprince’ apple trees, grown on sandy loam soil

Purpose Beneficial soil microbes, such as rhizobia, engage in facultative symbioses in the roots of leguminous host plants to exchange nitrogen for products of photosynthesis, and these symbioses can be altered by biotic and abiotic factors. Here, we investigated how soil nitrate supply and aboveground insect herbivory interact to influence biological nitrogen fixation in Medicago sativa (alfalfa or

Aims Soil abiotic factors influence plant defensive traits by shaping the costs of defence production and these bottom-up effects on plants can in turn affect insect herbivory. However, few studies have disentangled direct and indirect effects of soil abiotic factors on plant defences and insect herbivory. Methods To address this gap, we tested the influence of soil abiotic factors on seed predation

Purpose To study the adaptive potential of the plant Typha laxmannii Lepech. to heavy metal (HM) stress on the basis of analysis of its morphological and anatomical features under the conditions of an anthropogenically transformed ecosystem of the Don River Delta. Methods The soils on the monitored plots are of the Fluvisol type. The soil characteristics and total concentrations of Mn, Ni, Cd, Cu,

Aims Climate warming in northern ecosystems is triggering widespread permafrost thaw, during which deep soil nutrients, such as nitrogen, could become available for biological uptake. Permafrost thaw shift frozen organic matter to a saturated state, which could impede nutrient uptake. We assessed whether soil nitrogen can be accessed by the deep roots of vascular plants in thermokarst bogs, potentially

Aims Grassland-to-shrubland transition is a common form of land degradation in drylands worldwide. It is often attributed to changes in disturbance regimes, particularly overgrazing. A myriad of direct and indirect effects (e.g., accelerated soil erosion) of grazing may favor shrubs over grasses, but their relative importance is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that topsoil “winnowing” by wind erosion

Purpose Rising atmospheric CO2 levels associated with climate change increase plant nutrient demands. However, few studies have examined the interactions of atmospheric CO2 and P supply on root exudation which plays a crucial role in mobilising non-labile P in soil. This study aimed to examine the interactive effects of elevated CO2 and P deficiency on root exudation of organic acid anions and sugars

Aims Plant available soil nitrogen (N) may affect deep root growth and soil N depletion by catch crops. We investigated the influence of topsoil N availability on root growth and uptake by fodder radish. Methods We conducted field and greenhouse experiments of root growth and late autumn N uptake at medium and high soil N availabilities, and root N inflow at medium and deep soil depths (15N injection)

Aim We estimated how seasonality in conjunction with key climatic variables affects morphological and physiological plant functional traits (PFTs) and soil essential (micro and macro) nutrients in oak, pine, and mixed forests. Method The different PFTs were tested using several laboratory methods and using the portable photosynthesis system Li-COR 6400 XT, Lincoln NE, USA. Likewise, some chemical traits

Background and Aims In tropical ultramafic soils, potassium (K) is typically the most growth limiting nutrient. However, tropical nickel (Ni) hyperaccumulator plants, including Phyllanthus rufuschaneyi and Rinorea cf. bengalensis (which are ‘metal crops’ used in agromining) from Malaysia, have unusually high K shoot accumulation compared to other species, despite naturally growing on severely K-impoverished

Aims BnaC4.BOR1;1c is required for B acquisition in Brassica napus (B. napus) under low B stress. This study aimed to reveal the B regulatory mechanism of BnaC4.BOR1;1c and its physiological roles in B translocation from roots to shoots and B distribution in shoots. Methods Transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing GUS (β-glucuronidase) under different promoters were generated and the mRNA, and GUS

Background and aims In China and several other rice growing countries, lime application is a common practice to alleviate soil acidification in rice paddies. Liming may also reduce the concentration of the common toxin Cadmium (Cd) in rice plants. We evaluated to what extent lime application affects rice yield and grain Cd concentration. Methods We conducted a meta-analysis to quantify the effect of

Aims There is an increasing awareness of the importance of root-associated bacteria and fungi to plant growth. At present, little is known about whether different ginseng cultivars affect the soil rhizosphere microbial community. Here, we examined the changes in the microorganismal diversity and composition of the rhizospheres of different ginseng cultivars. Methods The rhizosphere soil of four ginseng

Aims Studies dealing with plants’ mineral nutrient status under elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration (eCO2) are usually conducted in closed hydroponic systems, in which nutrient solutions are entirely renewed every several days. Here, we investigated the contribution of the fluctuation of concentrations of N ([N]), P ([P]), and K ([K]) in nutrient solutions in this short period on their concentrations

Purpose Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play important roles in agriculture because of their ability to improve plant resilience against abiotic and biotic stresses. AMF as a technology to promote a more sustainable agriculture holds great potential, yet many factors affect the efficiency of this plant-microbe symbiosis leading to inconsistency in performance. The beneficial symbiosis between plants

Purpose High-diversity communities may mitigate the impact of environmental changes on soil erosion owing to the compositional, structural, and functional diversity of their species. In this field study, we explored the relative contributions of these biodiversity components to soil erosion and the mitigating effects of each index under environmental changes (e.g., rainfall intensity). Methods We investigated

Abstract Aims The agronomy of tropical ‘metal crops’ had not yet been tested until a recent pot trial was undertaken to test the growth and nickel (Ni) yield of two promising Ni ‘metal crops’ (Phyllanthus rufuschaneyi and Rinorea cf. bengalensis) from Sabah, Malaysia. The present study investigates the growth and Ni yield in P. rufuschaneyi in response to inorganic and organic fertilisation under field

Purpose To investigate whether soil clay content, cultivar and seasonal variation have any effect on soil CO2 emission rates and leaf CO2 assimilation rates in a drip-irrigated commercial Citrus sinensis orchard. Methods The study was carried out in the field as a randomised complete block design in a 2 × 2 factorial consisting of two soil types and two citrus cultivars on a drip-irrigated commercial

Aims Nitrate transporters (NRT) in plants are mainly encoded by the NPF and NRT2 gene families. We aimed to reveal the chromosome distribution, collinearity, coexpression and evolution of the NPF and NRT2 genes in the genome of wheat (Triticum aestivum). Nitrate transport activity of representative proteins was also verified. Methods Genomic information, collinearity analysis, coexpression network

Purpose The standardized ‘Tea Bag Index’ enables comparisons of litter decomposition rates, a key component of carbon cycling, across ecosystems. However, tea ‘litter’ may leach more than other plant litter, skewing comparisons of decomposition rates between sites with differing moisture conditions. Therefore, some researchers leach tea bags before field incubation. This decreases comparability between

Background and aims Karst rocky desertification (KRD) influences soil properties and plant species. Soil microbes are important factors in maintaining ecosystem stability. However, little is known about the role of fungi in adaptation of plants to KRD. Methods Fungi colonized in bulk soil, rhizosphere, and roots of Themeda japonica at strong and slight KRD were analyzed by ITS2 amplicon sequencing

Aims Plants deploying a phosphorus (P)-mobilising strategy via carboxylate release have relatively high leaf manganese concentrations ([Mn]). Thus, leaf [Mn] is a proxy for the amount of rhizosheath carboxylates. Whether the concentrations of other leaf micronutrient, such as iron ([Fe]), zinc ([Zn]) and copper ([Cu]), show a similar signal for rhizosheath carboxylates is unclear. Methods We grew a

Aims The positive effects of spatial heterogeneity in soil nutrients on plant performance have been well documented, but whether such effects depend on the presence of soil biota or the substrate type in which the heterogeneity is manipulated remains largely unknown. Methods In a greenhouse experiment, we grew the rhizomatous clonal grass Leymus chinensis in three different substrates (i.e., field

Aims Increased nitrification risks accelerating soil acidification under land-use change from tropical forest to cropland or plantation, but acidity might be neutralized by net mineralization of soil organic matter (SOM) that has accumulated under the former fallow vegetation. We aim to analyze key drivers of soil acidification and acid neutralization under different crops and fallow vegetation. Methods

Aims Aluminium toxicity in acidic soils adversely affects wheat growth. Foliar-applied magnesium (Mg) contributes to mitigating soil acidity stress in wheat, but the mechanisms are unknown. This study explored the mechanism of foliar-Mg mediated enhancement of wheat growth in acidic soil. Methods Two contrasting near-isogenic wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes differing in Al resistance (Al-sensitive

Purpose Mangrove plantations exhibit a high potential for biomass carbon sequestration, however, their effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation remains unclear. We examined the dynamics of community structure and ecosystem carbon accumulation along a chronosequence of Sonneratia apetala plantations on Qi’ao Island, China. Methods To reveal the self-thinning pattern of S. apetala plantations

Aims The Arbutus Greenway is a former railway corridor and current greenspace spanning 9 km in Metro Vancouver, BC. The objective of this study was to quantify variability in metal concentrations along the greenway and assess barrier effectiveness on reducing atmospheric deposition of metals from nearby roads. Methods At 5 sites along the greenway, soils and vegetation were sampled; metal concentrations

Aims Land use change due to the increasing anthropogenic activities is the most important driver leading to alteration of multiple ecosystem functions. Overgrazing is thought to be one of most pervasive and significant degrading processes in grasslands, but direct comparisons with other comparable drivers of land use intensification are lacking. Our results aimed to test how single land use practices

Aims Soil fungal communities play pivotal roles in promoting ecosystem carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling, stimulating disease resistance and enhancing tolerance against salt stress of host plants. However, the impact of anthropogenic management practices on the soil fungal community structure has not yet been clarified. Methods Using a four-consecutive-year field experiment and the quantitative polymerase

Aims In Mediterranean ecosystems fire and drought are two natural disturbances that affect plant traits and generate a highly heterogeneous landscape. The objective of this research was to analyze leaf chemistry, one important driver of carbon and nutrients cycles, and decomposition of Phillyrea angustifolia L. in a landscape affected by recurrent fire disturbance. Methods We investigated leaf litter

Aims Phyllosphere bacteria play critical roles in plant growth promotion, disease suppression and global nutrient cycling but remain understudied. Methods In this project, we examined the bacterial community on the phyllosphere of eight diverse lines of Brassica napus for ten weeks in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada. Results The bacterial community was shaped largely by plant growth stage with distinct

Aims Tolerance to waterlogging and recovery ability was compared among the three subspecies of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) to identify tolerance mechanisms, in order to guide future subclover breeding activities. Methods Three cultivars each of ssp. yanninicum, subterraneum and brachycalycinum were grown in a controlled environment glasshouse with T. michelianum as a waterlogging-tolerant

Aims We conducted a suite of tracer studies using the stable isotope 13C to follow and quantify the flow of carbon from leaf litter and roots into soil components including aggregates and biota with and without invasive earthworms. Methods Ten-year-old saplings of sugar maple growing in the understory of a thinned northern hardwood forest were labeled with 13CO2. The 13C labeled leaf litter was applied

Aims Soil organic carbon (C) efflux is tightly linked to the rhizosphere, where soil microorganisms rapidly decompose organic compounds released from roots. Recently, imaging approaches have greatly improved our understanding of small-scale C-turnover heterogeneity and promoted the term ‘rhizosphere hotspots’ for highly active areas. However, despite often assumed, the effect of these hotspots on total

Aims Data on the decomposition of fine roots are scarce for the Mediterranean basin. This work aims to compare chemical traits, decomposition rate, and temperature sensitivity (Q10) for root and leaf litter of 43 Mediterranean species. Methods We carried out a two-years litterbag decomposition experiment using 43 fine roots litter and leaf litter types incubated in laboratory conditions at three different

Aims This study aimed to better understanding the mechanism underlying the interaction between boron and NaCl and may provide methods to improve sugar beet production in saline soils. Methods Sugar beet seedlings were treated with different concentrations of boron and NaCl. The flame photometer and ion chromatography were used to determine the ion content. And the uptake of Cl− by beet roots, was measured