In situ roots decompose faster than shoots left on the soil surface under subtropical no-till conditions

Tahir, Majid Mahmood; Recous, Sylvie; Aita, Celso; Schmatz, Raquel; Pilecco, Getúlio Elias; Giacomini, Sandro José

doi:10.1007/s00374-016-1125-5

Cited by 16 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…The contribution from these 3 factors on C dynamics is particularly dependent on residue location in soil (Coppens et al, 2006a, b;Tahir et al, 2016). For example, Coppens et al (2006a) found that, after 9 weeks of experiment, new organic C storage in soil was increased when rapeseed residues were deposited onto the soil surface compared to residues incorporated in the 0-10 cm layer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fate of 13 C labelled root and shoot residues in soil and anecic earthworm casts: A mesocosm experiment

et al. 2017

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Earthworms are known to have a major impact on organic matter dynamics in soils. The precise dynamics of carbon incorporation and/or decomposition in soil under the influence of earthworms still need to be investigated. In a mesocosm experiment, the fate of Ryegrass root and shoot litter was monitored in the soil, in the presence and absence of anecic earthworms Lumbricus terrestris L. Residues were 13 C labelled and deposited onto the soil surface. Incorporation of 13 C in surface casts and in the 0-20 and 40-60 cm soil layers was monitored 1, 2, 4, 8, 24 and 54 weeks after adding labelled litter. Organic carbon content and δ 13 C values were obtained for all samples, allowing the determination of the percentage of carbon derived from labelled litter (Clab). Roots and shoots were incorporated in the 0-20 cm soil layer during the year of experiment, Clab reaching 11.4 % of the soil organic carbon after 54 weeks. On the contrary, no significant contribution from labelled residues was observed in the 40-60 cm layer. Roots decomposed at a slower rate compared to shoots. Litter incorporation was observed in casts from the very first weeks of experiment (Clab from 34.8 to 51.4 % after 2 weeks). In the soil, a significant effect of earthworms on the Clab was detected after 24 weeks. Earthworms accelerated root and shoot decomposition in the soil. They also enhanced, in the presence of shoot residues, the decomposition of the organic matter originally present in the soil. However, after one year, earthworms smoothed the difference between residue types in casts and to a lesser extent in soil, revealing their capacity to enhance the decomposition of both roots and shoots.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fate of 13 C labelled root and shoot residues in soil and anecic earthworm casts: A mesocosm experiment

et al. 2017

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“…Most of the 13 C entering the soil during plant growth via rhizodeposition can stimulate microbial growth, which is important for soil organic matter formation (Austin et al, 2017). Additionally, rhizodeposits have been reported to be preferentially stabilized in aggregates on organo-mineral interactions due to their closer physical proximity than residue-derived C. Therefore, estimation of 13 C in the soil prior to a decomposition experiment is necessary for partitioning C derived from rhizodeposits from root-derived C, particularly under NT conditions (Tahir et al, 2016).…”

Section: Recovery and Distribution Of 13 C In The Plant Parts And Soilmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a literature survey, we found that most of the labeled residues that were used for C dynamic studies were labeled under controlled conditions (Aita et al, 1997;Sanaullah et al, 2011). This finding may call into question the actual estimates of C contributions to SOM, especially from root residues, because of possible bias introduced into root decomposition due to removing, washing, and drying these roots, which not only results in the loss of fine roots and soluble C, but also destroys root-rhizosphere interaction (Aulen et al, 2012;Tahir et al, 2016). Although it is a complicated task to label plants under field conditions (Comeau et al, 2013), it is necessary particularly where NT is practiced, to replicate actual field conditions of root (i.e., intact roots) and shoot decomposition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Field 13C Pulse Labeling of Pea, Wheat, and Vetch Plants for Subsequent Root and Shoot Decomposition Studies

Tahir¹,

Recous

Aita

et al. 2018

Rev. Bras. Ciênc. Solo

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“…Higher substrate use efficiency (i.e. greater accumulation of microbial metabolites per unit of C uptake) is explained by the fact that microbial growth is co-limited by nutrients in a specific and relatively constant stoichiometric C:N:P:sulphur (S) ratio (Cleveland and Liptzin 2007;Kirkby et al 2011;Tahir et al 2016). In their study, Kirkby et al (2014) found up to three-fold greater conversion of straw C into fine-fraction SOC upon nutrient addition, which is well in line with the results of our study (2.9-fold greater retention).…”

Section: Retention Of Straw and Root Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fate of straw- and root-derived carbon in a Swedish agricultural soil

2017

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To maximise carbon (C) storage in soils, understanding the fate of C originating from aboveground and belowground residues and their interaction with fertiliser under field conditions is critically important. The use of 13 C natural abundance provides unique opportunities to separate both C sources. We investigated the effect of 16 years of C3 straw and C4 root input, with and without nitrogen (N) addition, on SOC stocks and C distribution in soil fractions in the long-term frame trial at Ultuna, Sweden. The straw C input was fixed at 1.77 Mg ha −1 year −1 , while the root input depended on maize plant growth, enabling studies on how N fertilisation affected (i) stabilisation of residues and (ii) plant C allocation to belowground organs. Four treatments were investigated: only maize roots (Control), maize roots with N (Control + N), maize roots and straw (Straw) and maize roots, straw and N (Straw + N). After 16 years, 5.6-8.9% of the total SOC stock in the 0-20 cm soil layer was maize-derived. In all four treatments, the relatively labile SOC fractions decreased, while the proportion of more refractory fractions increased. Based on allometric calculation of root inputs, retention of maize roots was 38, 26, 36 and 18% in the Control, Control + N, Straw and Straw + N treatments, respectively. The estimated retention coefficient of C3 straw in the Straw + N treatment was higher than that in the Straw-N treatment. We interpreted these results thus (1) roots were better stabilised in the soil than straw; (2) N fertilisation caused a shift in root to shoot ratio, with relatively more roots being present in Ndeficient soil; and (3) N fertilisation caused greater stabilisation of residues, presumably due to increased microbial C use efficiency.

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In situ roots decompose faster than shoots left on the soil surface under subtropical no-till conditions

Cited by 16 publications

References 39 publications

Fate of 13 C labelled root and shoot residues in soil and anecic earthworm casts: A mesocosm experiment

Fate of 13 C labelled root and shoot residues in soil and anecic earthworm casts: A mesocosm experiment

Field 13C Pulse Labeling of Pea, Wheat, and Vetch Plants for Subsequent Root and Shoot Decomposition Studies

Fate of straw- and root-derived carbon in a Swedish agricultural soil

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