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Preferential use of root litter compared to leaf litter by beech seedlings and soil microorganisms

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Abstract

Background and aims

Litter decomposition is regulated by e.g. substrate quality and environmental factors, particularly water availability. The partitioning of nutrients released from litter between vegetation and soil microorganisms may, therefore, be affected by changing climate. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of litter type and drought on the fate of litter-derived N in beech seedlings and soil microbes.

Methods

We quantified 15N recovery rates in plant and soil N pools by adding 15N-labelled leaf and/or root litter under controlled conditions.

Results

Root litter was favoured over leaf litter for N acquisition by beech seedlings and soil microorganisms. Drought reduced 15N recovery from litter in seedlings thereby affecting root N nutrition. 15N accumulated in seedlings in different sinks depending on litter type.

Conclusions

Root turnover appears to influence (a) N availability in the soil for plants and soil microbes and (b) N acquisition and retention despite a presumably extremely dynamic turnover of microbial biomass. Compared to soil microorganisms, beech seedlings represent a very minor short-term N sink, despite a potentially high N residence time. Furthermore, soil microbes constitute a significant N pool that can be released in the long term and, thus, may become available for N nutrition of plants.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the German Research Foundation / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) within the framework of the Beech Research Group under contract numbers FOR 788/1, RE 515/27-1, PO 362/17-1, and DA 1217/2-1. C.G. was financially supported by a scholarship from the China Scholarship Council (no. 2007U27036). Judy Simon was financially supported by the European Social Fund and by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg. Furthermore, we thank Merle Fastenrath, Regina Wiegel and Elisabeth Zumbusch for expert assistance during the experiment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Forest Botany and Tree Physiology, Chair of Tree Physiology, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 53/54, 79110, Freiburg, Germany

    Chanjuan Guo, Heinz Rennenberg & Judy Simon

  2. Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMK-IFU), Kreuzeckbahnstr. 19, 82467, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

    Michael Dannenmann, Rainer Gasche & Hans Papen

  3. UR 1138, Biogéochimie des Ecosystèmes Forestiers, Biogeochemistry in Forest Ecosystems, INRA, 54280, Champenoux, France

    Bernd Zeller

  4. Büsgen-Institut, Forstbotanik und Baumphysiologie, Georg August Universität Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

    Andrea Polle

  5. King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Heinz Rennenberg

Authors
  1. Chanjuan Guo
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  2. Michael Dannenmann
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  3. Rainer Gasche
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  4. Bernd Zeller
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  5. Hans Papen
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  6. Andrea Polle
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  7. Heinz Rennenberg
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  8. Judy Simon
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Correspondence to Heinz Rennenberg.

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Guo, C., Dannenmann, M., Gasche, R. et al. Preferential use of root litter compared to leaf litter by beech seedlings and soil microorganisms. Plant Soil 368, 519–534 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1521-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1521-z

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