Effects of Drought on the Growth of Lespedeza davurica through the Alteration of Soil Microbial Communities and Nutrient Availability.

ABSTRACT: Lespedeza davurica (Laxm.) is highly important for reducing soil erosion and maintaining the distinctive natural scenery of semiarid grasslands in northwest China. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of drought (20% water-holding capacity) on biomass and its allocation, root characteristics, plant hormones, and soil microbial communities and nutrients after L. davurica was grown in a greenhouse. Drought reduced the total biomass of L. davurica but increased the root:shoot biomass ratio. In addition, drought altered the composition and structure of microbial communities by limiting the mobility of nutrients in non-rhizosphere soils. In particular, drought increased the relative abundances of Basidiomycota, Acidobacteria, Actinobacter

SUBMITTER: Duan D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9025084 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature