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Zhou J, Su Y, Li X, Kuzyakov Y, Wang P, Gong J, Li X, Liu L, Zhang X, Ma C, Ma X, Huang T, Bai Y, Sun F. Arbuscular mycorrhizae mitigate negative impacts of soil biodiversity loss on grassland productivity. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 349:119509. [PMID: 37940487 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Grassland degradation decreases ecosystem productivity and diminishes soil biodiversity, leading to the loss of beneficial microorganisms. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a critical role in ecosystem functioning, being a key link between plant and microbial communities, soil, and vegetation. Here, we evaluated the potential of increasing the productivity of degraded grassland by AMF inoculation. A gradient of soil biodiversity: complete sterilization, low, moderate, and high biodiversity was established using the dilution-to-extinction approach. Grassland microcosms under greenhouse conditions were inoculated with three AMF taxa in an increasing diversity: no AMF, single AMF taxa, and all three AMF taxa together. The loss of soil biodiversity decreased plant community productivity, primarily due to reduced biomass of legumes and non-N2-fixing forbs. AMF inoculation raised plant community productivity by 190%, mainly attributed to the greater biomass of legumes and non-N2-fixing forbs. This positive effect of AMF inoculation was particularly pronounced on soils with low biodiversity, where soil mutualists were absent. The biomass of grasses remained independent of AMF inoculation. This differential responsiveness to mycorrhiza was mainly due to the distinctive plant traits of each plant functional group. Inoculating with a single AMF was more beneficial for plant biomass production than inoculation with multiple AMF under lower levels of soil biodiversity, probably due to high functional redundancy among AMF taxa. In conclusion, AMF inoculation reduced the adverse impact of soil degradation and biodiversity loss on plant biomass and vegetation development, highlighting the key roles and importance of AMF for grassland restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiqiong Zhou
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Grassland Science & Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, No.211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Yingying Su
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Grassland Science & Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, No.211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiangjun Li
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Grassland Science & Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, No.211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yakov Kuzyakov
- Department of Soil Science of Temperate Ecosystems, Department of Agricultural Soil Science, University of Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany; Peoples Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 117198, Moscow, Russia
| | - Pengsen Wang
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Grassland Science & Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, No.211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jinchao Gong
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Grassland Science & Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, No.211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xuxu Li
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Grassland Science & Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, No.211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lin Liu
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Grassland Science & Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, No.211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xinquan Zhang
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Grassland Science & Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, No.211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Congyu Ma
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Grassland Science & Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, No.211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiao Ma
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Grassland Science & Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, No.211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ting Huang
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Grassland Science & Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, No.211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yanfu Bai
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Grassland Science & Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, No.211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Feida Sun
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Grassland Science & Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, No.211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Perdomo-González A, Pérez-Reverón R, Goberna M, León-Barrios M, Fernández-López M, Villadas PJ, Reyes-Betancort JA, Díaz-Peña FJ. How harmful are exotic plantations for soils and its microbiome? A case study in an arid island. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:163030. [PMID: 36963683 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The plantation of exotic species has been a common practice in (semi-) arid areas worldwide aiming to restore highly degraded habitats. The effects of these plantations on plant cover or soil erosion have been widely studied, while little attention has been paid to the consequences on soil quality and belowground biological communities. This study evaluates the long-term (>60 years) effects of the exotic species Acacia cyclops and Pinus halepensis revegetation on soil properties, including microbiome, in an arid island. Soils under exotic plantation were compared to both degraded soils with a very low cover of native species and soils with well-preserved native plant communities. Seven scenarios were selected in a small area (~25 ha) with similar soil type but differing in the plant cover. Topsoils (0-15 cm) were analyzed for physical, chemical and biochemical properties, and amplicon sequencing of bacterial and fungal communities. Microbial diversity was similar among soils with exotic plants and native vegetation (Shannon's index = 5.26 and 5.34, respectively), while the most eroded soils exhibited significantly lower diversity levels (Shannon's index = 4.72). Bacterial and fungal communities' composition in degraded soils greatly differed from those in vegetated soils (Canberra index = 0.85 and 0.92, respectively) likely due to high soil sodicity, fine textures and compaction. Microbial communities' composition also differed in soils covered with exotic and native species, to a greater extent for fungi than for bacteria (Canberra index = 0.94 and 0.89, respectively), due to higher levels of nutrients, microbial biomass and activity in soils with native species. Results suggest that reforestation succeeded in avoiding further soil degradation but still leading to relevant changes in soil microbial community that may have negative effects on ecosystem stability. Information gained in this research could be useful for environmental agencies and decision makers about the controversial replacement of exotic plants in insular territories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adolfo Perdomo-González
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Edafología y Geología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain.
| | - Raquel Pérez-Reverón
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Edafología y Geología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Marta Goberna
- Departamento de Medio Ambiente y Agronomía, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Milagros León-Barrios
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Microbiología, Biología Celular y Genética, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Manuel Fernández-López
- Grupo de Microbiología de Ecosistemas Agroforestales, Departamento de Microbiología del Suelo y la Planta, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Pablo J Villadas
- Grupo de Microbiología de Ecosistemas Agroforestales, Departamento de Microbiología del Suelo y la Planta, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - J Alfredo Reyes-Betancort
- Jardín de Aclimatación de La Orotava, Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias (ICIA), 38400 Puerto de la Cruz, Spain
| | - Francisco J Díaz-Peña
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Edafología y Geología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain.
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