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Plant species and soil depth differentially affect microbial diversity and function in grasslands
Ryan, Kerry Bernadette De Menezes, Alexandre Finn, John Brennan, Fiona P.
Ryan, Kerry Bernadette
De Menezes, Alexandre
Finn, John
Brennan, Fiona P.
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2023-10-11
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Ryan, KB, De Menezes, A, Finn, JA, Brennan, FP. Plant species and soil depth differentially affect microbial diversity and function in grasslands. J Sustain Agric Environ. 2023; 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12077
Abstract
Introduction
Grassland ecosystems are a major store of terrestrial carbon (C), yet little is known about their capacity to cycle and store C in deeper soil horizons. Further, it is unclear how plant community composition within agricultural grasslands mediates this capacity and influences microbial community composition. We investigated whether the aboveground community composition in intensively-managed agricultural grasslands influenced belowground microbial community composition, abundance, respiration and enzyme activities with depth.
Materials & methods
Soil was sampled in four soil layers: A (0-15 cm), B (15-30 cm), C (30-60 cm) and D (60-90cm) in monocultures of six grassland species, and a mixture of all six. Functional capacity was measured through enzymatic and substrate induced respiration assays, and microbial abundance and diversity were assessed via qPCR and sequencing (16S, ITS), respectively.
Results
Microbial abundance and C cycling enzyme activity decreased, and community composition changed, along the soil depth gradient, regardless of the plant community. Microbial abundance was not significantly influenced by plant community type across the entire soil depth profile. However, prokaryotic community composition was significantly influenced by plant community in the top 15 cm of soil, and fungal community composition was significantly influenced between 15-30 cm in depth. Plant community types mediated the rate at which C cycling enzyme activity decreased along the soil depth gradient, and selected C cycling enzymes were significantly more active at 15-60 cm depth when Cichorium intybus (a deep rooting species) was present.
Conclusion
This study provides an improved understanding of how agricultural grassland communities affect the soil microbiome with depth; this has potential implications for the management of these systems for enhanced soil health. Our work indicates the potential for multi-species mixtures with deep rooting species to be a practical strategy to increase C cycling capacity in deeper soil layers within grasslands, which may have implications for policy goals related to C storage.