Background and aims While agroecological transition towards sustainable cropping systems has proposed the integration of nitrogen (N)-fixing-legumes to reduce N inputs, current agriculture faces primary limitations of water and N. It is therefore crucial to identify and hierarchize key drivers of legumes water and mineral (hydromineral) acquisition under limiting conditions, especially the underexplored

Background and aims Despite the widespread co-occurrence of subsoil acidity and compaction, the interaction between these factors and their combined effects on root system development under water-limited conditions is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate how the removal of soil strength and acidity influenced root development and examine relationships between root system properties and

Background and Aims Mutualistic root symbioses, particularly those involving mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, are pivotal to ecosystem productivity and stability. Plant-soil feedbacks (PSFs) and climate serve as primary regulators of these symbiotic interactions, determining their establishment, maintenance, and diversity. PSFs, encompassing the complex interactions between plants and

Background and aims Anthropogenic activities have substantially elevated nitrogen (N) deposition globally and affect ecosystem processes, including soil carbon (C) storage potential. Phosphorus (P) can become a limiting factor for plant production in instances of N deposition, yet the responses of ecosystem C cycles to P enrichment are poorly understood, particularly in sensitive alpine ecosystems

Background Efficient microbe-assisted phytoremediation is urgently needed for coping with heavy metal-polluted environments. Methods In this study, a new strain of rhizobacteria from Cd-contaminated soil was screened, and its environmental adaptability, physiological characteristics, and effects on Cd phytoextraction were investigated. Furthermore, genomic sequencing and transcriptomic analysis were

Aims Perennial forages in rotation with annual crops can improve agricultural resilience by increasing soil organic carbon. However, how nitrogen (N) sources interact with rotation diversity to influence soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions is not well understood. Methods During three snow-free seasons, N2O emissions, crop yields, and ancillary variables were measured at three experimental sites with

Aims Soil contaminated with heavy metals not only affects human health and safety but also poses a potential threat to the ecological balance of soil microbes. Ryegrass effectively extracts heavy metals from soil. Straw can increase the biomass of ryegrass, but the effects of straw addition on heavy metal absorption and changes in soil microbial community structure remain unclear. Our objective was

Background and aims According to the carbon (C) saturation concept, the capacity of soils to accumulate stabilized organic C is limited by the number of binding sites on mineral surfaces. The concept and its application are highly debated. Therefore, we aimed at testing this theory using field experimental data. Methods Soils were sampled from four long-term field experiments with different amounts

Background and aims Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can affect plant root morphology. However, whether the impact is localized or systemic is still unclear. Methods A root-splitting microcosm experiment was conducted to examine AMF effects on the root morphology of their host plants at two soil phosphorus (P) levels (5.7 and 25 mg kg−1). The main treatment (MT) had one root chamber with AMF inoculation

Aims Cotton Verticillium wilt is a very serious soil-borne disease caused mainly by Verticillium dahliae, which severely affects the yield and quality of cotton. There has been an increasing amount of research on the biocontrol of plant disease; however, there is still a lack of effective biocontrol strains. Methods In this study, antagonistic endophytic fungi were screened to inhibit V. dahliae, and

Aims High root tensile strength (RTS) is crucial for tree stability, windthrow resistance, soil reinforcement, and erosion control. However, RTS varies across species, and the underlying causes remain poorly understood. RTS is directly linked to anatomical structure and fiber morphology, which influence its resistance to stress. This study explores the relationship between xylem anatomy and RTS in

Background and aims Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Verticillium wilt is a class A quarantined disease in China. In September 2022, symptoms of this disease were observed in five-year-old alfalfa plants in a biocontrol field. This study aimed to assess the effects of the Verticillium wilt pathogen on alfalfa rhizosphere soil and plants under different biocontrol bacteria treatments using Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

Background and aims Organic amendments directly affect soil N transformations, while the direction and magnitude of these effects remain uncertain. Most previous studies through laboratory incubation experiments without plants likely neglected the feedback interactions of plant, thereby limiting the applicability in field conditions. This study aims to explore the effects of organic amendments on soil

Background and aims Given increasing climate variability, understanding how rhizosphere microbial communities respond to drying–rewetting cycles and how these cycles impact crop growth under different tillage practices is crucial for improving crop resilience and productivity. Methods We conducted an experiment with 16 pots at the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, using soils

Aims The carbon–nitrogen ratio (C/N ratio) of straw significantly influences its mineralization and nutrient release when returned to the soil. However, little is known about the effects of different mixtures of different types of straw on straw mineralization, dynamic changes of soil properties, soil microbial communities and the growth of later maize. Methods This study was conducted through incubation

Aim Improving grain yield in crop/pasture intercropping systems is important for ensuring food security. The grain yield advantage of intercropping systems originates from the border row effect and recovery growth, both of which are influenced by forage cutting dates. However, there is a lack of research on improving grain yield in intercropping systems by adjusting forage cutting dates. Methods An

Background and aims The concentration of silicon in crops depends on soil composition and plant type but whether grain yield depends on the wheat varieties that are enriched in Si in wheat remains poorly documented. Methods Field and pot experiments were performed on calcareous Cambisols near Montpellier, France, with eight wheat varieties commonly grown in the region. Additionally, we examined two

Background and aims Leaf litter constitutes a major fraction in litter production in Masson pine forests. However, productivity declines due to infertile soil. In these plantations, fertilization is a key management practice to sustain productivity. Our study aimed to: (1) evaluate the effect of mineral fertilizer on the decomposition dynamic of leaf litter; (2) evaluate its effect on amino acid concentration;

Background and objective Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying plant-microbe interactions harbours great potential for increasing the productivity and resilience of crops. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution and role of the type III secretion system (T3SS) in non-pathogenic Pseudomonas strains associated with sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). The T3SS acts like a molecular

Introduction Apple replant disease (ARD) causes reduced growth and fruit yield and affects orchards and tree nurseries worldwide. A number of pathogens have been consistently identified as causal agents of ARD; however factors affecting disease-severity are not fully understood. Aims We examined five soils from German tree nurseries and apple orchards featuring different soil characteristics and replant

Background and aims The plant root exhibits significant heterogeneity, which deeply affects the associated microbial communities, but the spatial heterogeneity of microbiome associated with root is often overlooked. Methods Using the mini-rhizobox approach, 16S rRNA profiling and bioinformatics analyses, we analyzed an extensive dataset of 2,185 samples to decipher the mechanisms governing the assembly

Background and aims Silicon (Si) has been shown to alleviate cadmium (Cd) toxicity in plants, but the effect of Si on hyperaccumulators such as S. alfredii has not been fully elucidated. This study evaluated the impact of exogenous Si on growth, Cd accumulation, and rhizosphere properties of S. alfredii. Methods Si was applied to S. alfredii and various parameters were assessed, including biomass,

Background and aims Although variations in microbial communities and residue components have been detected during the decomposition of monospecific and mixed plant residue in soils, little is known about the response of specific taxa to different residue types and their interactions with other microorganisms. Methods We compared the decomposition dynamics, recruited microbial community, and lignocellulolytic

Background and aims The intensification of climate change and increases in dam construction have altered the inherent hydrological rhythms of river-connected lakes and led to the formation of a new feature of lake sediment known as sediment hardening. However, changes in sediment characteristics caused by sediment hardening and their potential effects on submerged macrophytes remain unclear. Methods

Background and Aims Biocrusts play vital roles in arid ecosystems, yet their responses to environmental change remain poorly understood, especially for biocrusts sheltered beneath vegetation canopies. This study aimed to identify critical environmental drivers and thresholds shaping under-canopy biocrust distribution and development across the Mu Us Sandland in northwestern China. Methods We measured

Background and aims Soil invertebrates are an indispensable component of forest biodiversity, and play irreplaceable roles in carbon and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. Although decaying logs and canopy gaps might affect the structure and function of soil invertebrate community via multiple pathways, knowledge regarding the interactive effect of decaying logs and gap positions on soil invertebrate

Background and aims The role of phytoliths as indicators of temperate forests remains a topic of ongoing debate that requires a clear understanding. This study aims to evaluate the potential of overall phytolith assemblages, as well as arboreal phytoliths, in representing the composition and abundance of temperate forests. Methods This study, conducted in Northeast China, established 79 sample plots

Background and aims Soil carbon (C) pools influence the global C balance of terrestrial ecosystems. Calcium (Ca) affects soil organic carbon (SOC) by mediating organic-mineral interactions. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the relationships among Ca forms, labile organic carbon (OC) fractions, carbon pool management indices and microbial communities. Methods We selected three soils with different

Background and aims Microbial necromass carbon (MNC) is important to soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions formation. However, it is still not clear whether the contribution of MNC to particulate and mineral-associated organic carbon (POC and MAOC) in different forest types are various. Methods The Pinus tabuliformis forest (P), Quercus aliena forest (Q), and the mixed forest of Pinus tabuliformis and

Background and aims Salinity poses a significant challenge to agricultural production, and mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) is among the more salt-sensitive food legumes. This study evaluated salinity tolerance in four contrasting mungbean genotypes by analysing their morpho-physiological responses at the vegetative stage and at maturity. Methods Plants were grown in soil-filled pots subjected to five salinity

Carex ecostata is essential in maintaining soil stability, water filtration, and biodiversity, and it often thrives in wetland ecosystems. This species occurs mainly in high-altitude regions. This study investigates the structural and functional traits of Rare Mountain Sedge (Carex ecostata) across subtropical and western Himalayan regions of Pakistan. The sample of Carex ecostata was collected at

Background Analysing the status of ecosystem services and their driving mechanisms along environmental gradients is highly important for the reconstruction and protection of regional ecosystems. Exploration of the effects of plant functional traits on ecosystem services is important for revealing the formation mechanisms of ecosystem services. However, the complex effects of plant functional traits

Aims This study aimed to define how vegetation affects the content and chemistry of soil organic matter (SOM) in topsoil (O and A) horizons under blueberry shrubs (Vaccinietum myrtilli) and tall-grass vegetation in the subalpine zone of the Bieszczady Mountains (Eastern Carpathians, SE Poland). Methods Topsoil samples (O and A horizons) were collected from ten sites covered with Vaccinium myrtillus

Aims Plant-specific microbial diversity reflecting host-microbe coevolution was frequently shown at the structural level but less on the functional scale. We studied the microbiome of three compartments at the soil root interface (root endosphere, rhizosphere, bulk soil) of medicinal plants cultivated under organic management in Egypt. The study aimed to examine the impact of the rhizosphere on microbial

Purpose The importance of protists in plant growth and health has already been widely studied. However, protists are rarely associated with soil-borne viral disease and how plant genotype can affect these interactions. Methods Here, we investigated rhizosphere protists linked with wheat yellow mosaic disease resistance and susceptibility in cultivars during the wheat seedling to the jointing stages

Aims This study explores the interactions between SiO2-NPs, ZnO-NPs, and Bacillus megaterium and their potential effects on the growth and rhizosphere microbial communities of roses with the development of nanotechnology applications in agriculture. Methods At concentrations of 10 ppm ZnO-NPs and 1 ppm SiO2-NPs, favorable coexistence with Bacillus megaterium was observed. Therefore, six treatment groups

Background and aims Vermicompost is a valuable amendment for phytomanagement of heavy metals contaminated areas but its impact on plant physiology remains poorly documented. It is available in liquid or solid forms, but these forms were never compared for their influence on pollutant accumulation by the plant in relation to soil heavy metals bioavailabilities. Methods Solid vermicompost (SV) and liquid

Aim Legumes are vital to agroecosystems and human nutrition, yet climate change is compromising their nutritional value. This study aims to assess how a one-month exposure to elevated CO2 (eCO2) impacts biomass yield, mineral profile, gene expression, and the soil microbiome of common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Methods Phaseolus vulgaris L. was grown in field conditions under ambient CO2

Aims Crop rotation is a vital practice in sustainable agricultural management. This study aimed to investigate soil labile organic carbon, carbon-degrading microorganisms, and soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization in oilseed rape-rice (OR), wheat-rice (WR), oilseed rape-maize (OM), and wheat–maize (WM) rotations without (CK) and with the application of chemical fertilizers (NPK). Methods A 7-year

Background and aims Plant-associated microbiotas play a key role in plant health, growth, and stresses resilience. One main component of the plant microbiota is the endophytic bacterial communities, which live inside the internal tissues. The principal sources of this microbiota are the seed and the soil. Particularly, soil bacteria are attracted by different signals present in plant root exudates

Aims Mixed cropping systems such as intercropping and crop rotation have been proven to be sustainable agronomic tools that provide agro-ecological services and improve crop yield through soil physical, chemical and biological changes in the soil. In this study, we aimed to assess the impact of different mixed cropping systems on a crop well-adapted to high temperatures and low precipitation, like

Background Previous studies have demonstrated that plant-associated microbial diversity can confer fitness advantages to the plant host and influence ecosystem functions. The extent to which plant-associated microbial diversity modulates the response of plant fitness to environmental changes through its role in defining trait expression in the host plant remains, however, largely unknown. Methods In

Aims The soils of riparian ecosystems harbor a significant amount of organic carbon (C) and are susceptible to anthropogenic disturbances. However, the warming response of soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition in riparian ecosystems has received limited attention. Methods In this study, we quantified the thermal sensitivity (Q10) of SOC decomposition across a mean annual precipitation (MAP) gradient

Most terrestrial plants are sensitive to prolonged flooding or soil salinity, and exposure to the combination of these factors generally compounds the negative effects of each one considered separately. Achachairu (Garcinia humilis, fam. Clusiaceae), a tropical fruit tree from the Bolivian Amazon, is tolerant to flooding and moderately tolerant to soil salinity, but its physiological and biochemical

Background and Aims Soil acidity and tillage methods negatively affect crop yields in tropical and subtropical ecosystems. The goal of this study was to evaluate the long-term (32-year) impact of different soil tillage and liming strategies on crop yields, yield stability, and the residual effects on soil acidity properties of a subtropical Oxisol. Methods The experiment, established in 1987, included

Background and aims A-HA (artificial humic acid) play essential roles to improve soil organic matter in agricultural soil, however, the relative mechanistic effects on soil phosphorus (P) transformation and availability resulting from stimulation of microbial activities and changes in microbial communities remain uncertain. This study investigated the responses of microbial communities in the rhizosphere

Aims Understanding the linkage between community heterogeneity (β diversity) and ecosystem functioning is crucial for uncovering complex ecological processes that impact ecosystem stability and productivity. However, our understanding of how β diversity is associated with ecosystem functioning across environmental gradients remains limited. Methods We conducted an aridity-gradient transect survey of

Background and aims Studying the relationship between plant functional groups and soil microbial functional groups, abiotic and biotic factors are important for understanding the mechanisms of species coexistence and ecological processes among biological communities, especially in species-rich tropical rainforests. Methods This study utilized the Competitor, Stress-tolerator, and Ruderal (CSR) theory

Background and aims Roots and mycorrhizal fungi, especially the Root-pathway and Myc-pathway, represent two alternative strategies for plants in the process of soil nutrient foraging. However, the concurrent carbon (C) economy associated with resource acquisition through root and mycorrhizal pathways remains unclear, particularly across the nitrogen (N) enrichment gradient. Methods Using experimental

Aims Forests across the world are subject to disturbance via wind, wildfire, and pest and disease outbreaks. Yet we still have an incomplete understanding of how these stressors impact forest biota—particularly the soil microbes, which govern forest carbon and nutrient cycling. Methods Here, we investigated the impact of a severe windstorm on soil bacterial communities in Kielder Forest, a temperate

Aims This study compared the ability of natural abundance (NA) and 15N-enrichment (EN) methods to quantify contribution of different N sources (fertilizer and legume N derived from fixation) to crop N uptake by maize crop grown in No-Till cropping system under field conditions. The quantitative estimates of different N contributions were then compared between methods. Methods A field experiment was

Background Proper water and fertilizer management can improve soil quality, regulate soil microbial community balance, and increase crop yield. However, the overall soil quality of Panax notoginseng under different irrigation and fertilization levels are still unclear. Methods We set up an experiment with different irrigation and fertilization treatments and a non-irrigated and non-fertilized CK as

Background and aim Differences in root system architecture of species grown in mixtures may contribute to overyielding through spatial niche complementarity, depending on soil conditions. We investigated if differences in root system architecture in a grass-forb combination under drying soil conditions contributed to complementarity in root distribution. Methods Bristle oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.)

Background and aims Root-associated microbiome, especially the core taxa, profoundly affect host fitness. Previous studies have shown that the fungal probiotic Phomopsis liquidambaris caused the reassembly of the peanut root core microbiome, promoting plant growth and disease resistance. However, the assembly mechanism of the root core microbiome remains largely unknown. Methods The rhizosphere bacterial

Aims Microbial inoculants play important roles in the remediation of abandoned mine sites by stimulating plant growth. However, further investigations are required to elucidate their impacts on soil microbial communities and metabolites in this process. Methods For this study, we employed amplicon sequencing and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) techniques to examine the responses

Aim Considering that the current proportion of saline-alkaline land worldwide is relatively high, it is vital to find a low-consumption and high-efficiency method for saline-alkaline land restoration, while at the same time, mitigating environmental contamination and optimizing agroforestry waste management. Methods Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) Wu15 was extracted and inoculated onto

Background and aims Herbivore dung varies among species in terms of nutrients and microbial composition, but the effect of the microbial activity in the dung on plant growth and symbiotic association is largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the influence of cow dung quantity and dung microbial activity on plant-microbe interactions (mycorrhiza, nodulation) and the growth of Trifolium pratense

Background and Aims EL Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events exert significant effects on ecosystem carbon (C) cycle. However, how forest Rs in the East Asian monsoon region can respond to ENSO events remains unclear. Methods Based on multi-source databases, we conducted a synthesis to analyze the differential responses of forest Rs in different climatic zones of East Asia to ENSO events. The response

Aims Biocrusts, communities dominated by mosses, lichens, cyanobacteria, algae, and fungi living on the soil surface, constitute a vital biotic component of dryland ecosystems that play critical roles in maintaining their structure and functioning. However, there are substantial knowledge gaps regarding the global distribution of biocrusts, which has primarily been estimated using statistical methods