Soil fertilization leads to a decline in between-samples variability of microbial community δ13C profiles in a grassland fertilization experiment.

ABSTRACT: Gas chromatography combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS) was used to measure the (13)C/(12)C ratios of PLFAs at natural abundance levels from a temperate grassland nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) factorial fertilization experiment in northern Greece. In each plot two rhizosphere samples were derived centred around individual Agrostis capillaris and Prunella vulgaris plants. It was hypothesized that the isotopic signal of microbes that preferentially feed on recalcitrant litter such as fungi would be modified by fertilization more strongly than that of opportunistic microbes using labile C. Microbial community δ(13)C was affected by both P and N fertilization regime and plant species identity. However, we have been unable to detect significant nutrient effects on individual

SUBMITTER: Veresoglou SD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3433468 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature