Spatial heterogeneity in root litter and soil legacies differentially affect legume root traits.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Plants affect the soil environment via litter inputs and changes in biotic communities, which feed back to subsequent plant growth. Here we investigated the individual contributions of litter and biotic communities to soil feedback effects, and plant ability to respond to spatial heterogeneity in soil legacy.

Methods

We tested for localised and systemic responses of Trifolium repens to soil biotic and root litter legacy of seven grassland species by exposing half of a root system to control soil and the other half to specific inoculum or root litter.

Results

Soil inoculation triggered a localised reduction in root length while litter locally increased root biomass independent of inoculum or litter species identity. Nodule formation was local

SUBMITTER: Saar S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6435190 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature