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

Abstract

Background and AimsPlants 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.MethodsWe 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.ResultsSoil inoculation triggered a localised reduction in root length while litter locally increased root biomass independent of inoculum or litter species identity. Nodule formation was locally suppressed in response to soil conditioned by another legume (Vicia cracca) and showed a trend towards systemic reduction in response to conspecific soil. V. cracca litter also caused a systemic response with thinner roots produced in the part of the root system not directly exposed to the litter.ConclusionsSpatial heterogeneity in root litter distribution and soil communities generate distinct local and systemic responses in root morphology and nodulation. These responses can influence plant-mutualist interactions and nutrient cycling, and should be included in plant co-existence models.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s11104-018-3667-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Accumulation in nutrient acquisition strategies of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant roots in poor and heterogeneous soils of karst shrub ecosystems

“…Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi [ 4 , 5 ] and root traits (e.g. root biomass and shoot: root ratio) [ 6 , 7 ] are both needed for plant nutrient acquisition, and their variation may reflect key nutrient acquisition behaviours in the belowground environment [ 8 – 10 ]. For example, plants will modify their biomass allocation in heterogeneous soil environments [ 11 ], and allocate more carbohydrates belowground for root proliferation and produce more roots in high nutrient availability patches [ 12 , 13 ].…”

Spatial Expansion Strategy of the Clonal Modules for <i>Phragmites australis</i> and Response to Environmental Factors in an Inland River Wetland

“…Selecting different patterns of space expansion were an important adaptive strategy for clonal plants to effectively utilize heterogeneous resources with improved survival rates and growth competitiveness, and it is also the result of the interaction between the biological characteristics of clonal plant population and environmental factors [33][34][35]. Environmental factors (water, salt, pH, nutritional conditions, and so on) are essential for the growth and spatial expansion of clonal plants in habitats with different resource levels [36][37][38][39]. Water use efficiency affects the morphological construction of plant leaves.…”

Wildfire Alters Spatial Patterns of Available Soil Nitrogen and Understory Environments in a Valley Boreal Larch Forest

“…The heterogeneity of soil resources plays an important role in sustaining the structure and functioning of forest ecosystems [1][2][3], as such heterogeneity can impact the survival of colonizing individual vegetation species and thus the biodiversity of vegetation communities [4,5]. Plants can also impact the spatial pattern of soil resources by altering physical, chemical and biological soil properties [6][7][8]. However, recent studies have found that these interactions and the potential heterogeneity across landscapes could be modified by disturbances [9][10][11].…”