Is plant biodiversity driven by decomposition processes? An emerging new theory on plant diversity

Mazzoleni, Stefano; Bonanomi, Giuliano; Giannino, Francesco; Rietkerk, Max; Dekker, Stefan C.; Zucconi, F.

doi:10.1556/comec.8.2007.1.12

Cited by 53 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…More recently, Callaway (2007, p. 160) pointed out that such plant-soil negative feedback has not been explicitly considered in the context of plant facilitation. New evidence from studies carried out in temperate grasslands (e.g., Klironomos 2002;Bonanomi et al 2005b) indicates that plant species can produce a mosaic of microsites detrimental to conspecifics, but beneficial to other species (review in Mazzoleni et al 2007;Kulmatisky et al 2008). The effects of such facilitative mechanism are cryptic, and can be assessed only by specific experiments (Klironomos 2002;Bonanomi et al 2005b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing occurrence, specificity, and mechanisms of plant facilitation in terrestrial ecosystems

2011

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Plants alter environmental conditions enhancing the recruitment of other species. In spite of prior reviews of facilitation, the variability of its occurrence, mechanisms, and specificity across terrestrial ecosystems has not yet been assessed. In this article, we analyze facilitative mechanisms and the distribution of specific traits, such as nitrogen fixation and the presence of fleshy fruits, across ecosystems. A comprehensive database including 2,080 cases of facilitation among higher plants from 539 articles was analyzed with descriptive statistics for occurrences of positive interactions and underlying mechanisms in different terrestrial ecosystems. Positive interactions by plant-induced environmental changes are widespread in a range of ecosystems and not limited to conditions of chronic abiotic stress such as semiarid, alpine, and wetland ecosystems. The capability to act as nurse largely varied among different growth forms, and was observed more frequently for woody than for herbaceous plants. Nitrogen fixers occur much more frequently as nurse plants than as beneficiary plants in facilitation cases due to increasing soil fertility. As known for Mediterranean ecosystems, fleshy-fruited species appear more dependent on facilitative interactions than other plants, being more frequent among beneficiaries than among nurses. The pattern can be extended worldwide being consistent in wetland, temperate, and alpine ecosystems as well. Our description of the relationship between distribution, mechanisms, and specificity of facilitation in terrestrial ecosystems has implications for the understanding of plant community organization considering that plant nursing capacity is affected by their size, architecture, and life span

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing occurrence, specificity, and mechanisms of plant facilitation in terrestrial ecosystems

2011

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“…Through the autotoxic activity, allelopathins restrict both the growth and development of plants and seed germination processes, which is particularly visible within the same group of species. The allelopathic impact of plant root exudates results in the "favouritism" of representatives of certain species, and the exclusion of the species currently inhabiting a particular ecosystem (Mazzoleni et al 2007). The effects of the autotoxic impact of phenolic compounds have been demonstrated for many plant species, such as maize (Zea mays L.) (Ahmad and Bano 2013), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) (Bouhaouel et al 2015), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Wu et al 2008), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) (Sołtys et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Content of phenolic compounds in soils originating from two long-term fertilization experiments

Sadej

Żołnowski

Marczuk

2016

Archives of Environmental Protection

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Abstract:The objective of the study was to compare the impact of three systems of multiannual fertilization applied in two long-term fi eld experiments on the content of phenolic compounds in the soil. In the study, both natural (manure, slurry) and mineral (NPK) fertilizers were used, along with combined, organic-and-mineral fertilization. Experiment I was established in 1972 on grey brown podzolic soil; experiment II, in 1973 on brown soil. In both experiments crops were cultivated in a 7-year rotation, with a 75% share of cereals. The experimental samples were taken from the top layer of soil after 36 (experiment I) and 35 (experiment II) years following the establishment of the experiments. It was demonstrated that the presence of phenolic compounds in the soils was signifi cantly dependent on the contents of organic C and total N, type of soil and the type and dose of used fertilizers. In grey brown podzolic soil, the content of total phenolic compounds was at a lower level than the content found in brown soil. Multiannual fertilization contributed to an increase in the content of total phenolic compounds in relation to the values obtained in control objects, which was particularly refl ected in the soil originating from objects fertilized with slurry applied at a dose being equivalent to manure in terms of the amount of introduced organic carbon. The percentage of water-soluble phenols in the total content of these compounds in grey brown podzolic soil was at the level of 18.4%, while in brown soil it amounted to 29.1%.

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“…Carbon dioxide is released during the decomposition process while those litter components more resistant to decay form humus, a major carbon storage product. The accumulation of organic matter in the soil as a consequence of decomposition has several indirect effects on soil fertility and nutrient availability to plants (Mazzoleni et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient release during decomposition of leaf litter in a peach (Prunus persica L.) orchard

Ventura

Scandellari

Bonora

et al. 2009

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

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The decomposition of plant residues has a pivotal role in carbon and nutrient cycles in agricultural ecosystems, where it can contribute to the sustainable management of the crops. In this paper we report a study on the release of C and nutrients during the decomposition of peach abscised leaves in northern Italy. Litter bags containing a representative amount of leaf material were installed under tree canopies either on the soil surface under open field conditions or on the soil surface in pots under partially controlled conditions. Potted leaf litter was pre-labelled with 15 N. We observed that in 3 years, peach leaves lost 85% of their initial mass mostly attributable to cellulose decomposition, while new lignin or lignin-like compounds were synthesised during the first stages of the decomposition process. Nutrient dynamics differed depending on the considered element. Nitrogen and sulphur were initially immobilized into the litter to be released only starting after 44 weeks from the beginning of the decomposition. Potassium and magnesium were rapidly released in the winter following leaf abscission, reaching an amount that remained constant up to the end of the trial. Calcium and phosphorus release was slow, but constant throughout the three-year study period. With the only exception of Mg, 80-90% of initial amounts of mineral elements had released from decomposing peach leaves after 3 year from leaf abscission. Since in mature stands leaf litters of different ages coexist on the soil surface 80-90% of the nutrients contained in the abscised leaves are expected to return annually to the soil and potentially be available for subsequent root and/or microbial uptake.

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Is plant biodiversity driven by decomposition processes? An emerging new theory on plant diversity

Cited by 53 publications

References 54 publications

Assessing occurrence, specificity, and mechanisms of plant facilitation in terrestrial ecosystems

Assessing occurrence, specificity, and mechanisms of plant facilitation in terrestrial ecosystems

Content of phenolic compounds in soils originating from two long-term fertilization experiments

Nutrient release during decomposition of leaf litter in a peach (Prunus persica L.) orchard

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