Plant diversity increases soil microbial activity and soil carbon storage

Lange, Markus; Eisenhauer, Nico; Sierra, Carlos; Beßler, Holger; Engels, Christoph; Griffiths, Robert I.; Mellado-Vázquez, Perla Griselle; Malik, Ashish; Roy, Jacques; Scheu, Stefan; Steinbeiss, Sibylle; Thomson, Bruce C.; Trumbore, Susan E.; Gleixner, Gerd

doi:10.1038/ncomms7707

Cited by 1,152 publications

(900 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…Tree leaves, tree roots, and the herbaceous vegetation from the tree row have different C : N ratios, lignin, and cellulose contents than the crop residues. Recent studies showed that plant diversity had a positive impact on SOC storage (Lange et al, 2015;Steinbeiss et al, 2008). One of the hypotheses proposed by the authors is that diverse plant communities result in more active, more abundant, and more diverse microbial communities, increasing microbial products that can potentially be stabilized.…”

Section: Higher Oc Inputs or A Different Quality Of Oc?mentioning

confidence: 99%

High organic inputs explain shallow and deep SOC storage in a long-term agroforestry system – combining experimental and modeling approaches

et al. 2018

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Abstract. Agroforestry is an increasingly popular farming system enabling agricultural diversification and providing several ecosystem services. In agroforestry systems, soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks are generally increased, but it is difficult to disentangle the different factors responsible for this storage. Organic carbon (OC) inputs to the soil may be larger, but SOC decomposition rates may be modified owing to microclimate, physical protection, or priming effect from roots, especially at depth. We used an 18-year-old silvoarable system associating hybrid walnut trees (Juglans regia × nigra) and durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) and an adjacent agricultural control plot to quantify all OC inputs to the soil -leaf litter, tree fine root senescence, crop residues, and tree row herbaceous vegetation -and measured SOC stocks down to 2 m of depth at varying distances from the trees. We then proposed a model that simulates SOC dynamics in agroforestry accounting for both the whole soil profile and the lateral spatial heterogeneity. The model was calibrated to the control plot only.Measured OC inputs to soil were increased by about 40 % (+ 1.11 t C ha −1 yr −1 ) down to 2 m of depth in the agroforestry plot compared to the control, resulting in an additional SOC stock of 6.3 t C ha −1 down to 1 m of depth. However, most of the SOC storage occurred in the first 30 cm of soil and in the tree rows. The model was strongly validated, properly describing the measured SOC stocks and distribution with depth in agroforestry tree rows and alleys. It showed that the increased inputs of fresh biomass to soil explained the observed additional SOC storage in the agroforestry plot. Moreover, only a priming effect variant of the model was able to capture the depth distribution of SOC stocks, suggesting the priming effect as a possible mechanism driving deep SOC dynamics. This result questions the potential of soils to store large amounts of carbon, especially at depth. Deep-rooted trees modify OC inputs to soil, a process that deserves further study given its potential effects on SOC dynamics.

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Section: Higher Oc Inputs or A Different Quality Of Oc?mentioning

confidence: 99%

High organic inputs explain shallow and deep SOC storage in a long-term agroforestry system – combining experimental and modeling approaches

et al. 2018

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“…In part this difference occurs because different tree (and plant) species have different wood densities, different rates of photosynthesis and respiration, and because decomposition occurs at different rates, depending on multiple factors. Therefore, in most studies, the functional characteristics and richness of plant communities are major drivers of carbon accumulation in all pools (Kirby and Potvin 2007;Conti and Diaz 2013;Harmon et al 2013;Lange et al 2015), although Finegan et al (2015) found no relationship between species richness and biomass. For soils, Lange et al (2015) found that elevated carbon storage at sites with high plant diversity is directly related to the soil microbial functional community (i.e., soil biodiversity), which in turn is related to plant species richness, suggesting that soil carbon storage is mainly limited by the integration of new carbon into soil and less by the decomposition of existing soil carbon.…”

Section: Biodiversity and Carbon Sequestration In Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services

et al. 2017

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Forests are critical habitats for biodiversity and they are also essential for the provision of a wide range of ecosystem services that are important to human well-being. There is increasing evidence that biodiversity contributes to forest ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services. Here we provide a review of forest ecosystem services including biomass production, habitat provisioning services, pollination, seed dispersal, resistance to wind storms, fire regulation and mitigation, pest regulation of native and invading insects, carbon sequestration, and cultural ecosystem services, in relation to forest type, structure and diversity. We also consider relationships between forest biodiversity and multifunctionality, and trade-offs among ecosystem services. We compare the concepts of ecosystem processes, functions and services to clarify their definitions. Our review of published studies indicates a lack of empirical studies that establish quantitative and causal relationships between forest biodiversity and many important ecosystem services. The literature is highly skewed; studies on provisioning of nutrition and energy, and on cultural services, delivered by mixed-species forests are under-represented. Planted forests offer ample opportunity for optimising their composition and diversity because replanting after harvesting is a recurring process. Planting mixed-species forests should be given more consideration as they are likely to provide a wider range of ecosystem services within the forest and for adjacent land uses. This review also serves as the introduction to this special issue of Biodiversity and Conservation on various aspects of forest biodiversity and ecosystem services.

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“…Scientists call this phenomenon "priming effect" (Guenet et al, 2010). The decomposer living network is still partially understood and under investigation (Straatsma et al, 1994;Anastasi et al, 2005;Jayasinghe and Parkinson, 2009;Mummey et al, 2010;Burns et al, 2013;Lange et al, 2015;Ballhausen and de Boer, 2016;Geisen et al, 2016); • During the process of respiration about 2/3 of the C content of organic remains is lost in the atmosphere as CO 2 and 1/3 incorporated in new microorganisms. If the C/N ratio of organic remains is ≤ 30, and if all N can be incorporated in new microbial structures (McDowell and Clark-McDowell, 2008), the process of biodegradation can go on fast and well until the complete utilisation of the organic remains.…”

Section: Manure Humus Systems: Techno Humus Systems With Soil Createdmentioning

confidence: 99%

Humusica 2, article 16: Techno humus systems and recycling of waste

Zanella

Ponge

Guercini

et al. 2018

Applied Soil Ecology

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Techno humus systems correspond to man-made topsoils under prominent man influence. They may be purposely\ud conceived for supporting agricultural activities or dumping of waste products, sometimes abandoned to\ud an unknown evolution. Both categories needed a more scientific frame. This is the reason we classified them as\ud morpho-functional humus systems. Improving agricultural soils with organic waste products is an ancestral\ud practice. We present four examples of techno humus systems purposely created for supporting plant growth.\ud Considering a simple home-made composting pile, we give a few basic notions about the biological functioning\ud of these artificial humus systems. Humipedon functioning and structuration are similar to those observed in\ud natural humus systems. Using even animal manure, we illustrate how to manage larger compost piles of waste\ud for application in farming areas. Composting waste that contains animal proteins needs a more careful measurement\ud of the temperature of the pile and a longer period of elevated temperature in the core of the pile.\ud Mulching of pruning residues is presented in a large urban context. The use of mulch must take into account\ud quality and composition of woody material. The lack of nutrients in some residues has to be compensated by a\ud moderate use of appropriate mineral fertilizers. Municipal solid waste, anaerobic digestion residues (grape remains)\ud and spent mushroom compost, eventually mixed with mineral fertilizers, have been tested in horticulture.\ud Benefits and drawbacks are listed for each experiment, with the evolution of carbon storage along 8\ud years of horticultural practice. Finally, we present an example of “dump” humus system. Mine tailing wastes\ud represent a huge problem in many countries. Pointing on their microbial activity, we show that they must be\ud seen as manageable living humipedons, not as piles of inert rocky material

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Plant diversity increases soil microbial activity and soil carbon storage

Cited by 1,152 publications

References 74 publications

High organic inputs explain shallow and deep SOC storage in a long-term agroforestry system – combining experimental and modeling approaches

High organic inputs explain shallow and deep SOC storage in a long-term agroforestry system – combining experimental and modeling approaches

Forest biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services

Humusica 2, article 16: Techno humus systems and recycling of waste

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