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

Background and aims Selenium (Se) deficiency in soil and human diets may worsen with elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (eCO2). However, current research focused on essential nutrient elements, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, the effects of eCO2 on Se accumulation in staple crops are understudied. Here, the Se-hyperaccumulator Cardamine hupingshanensis was selected to investigate the impacts

Background and aims In grapevines and other deep-rooting plants, heterogeneous drying from the surface to deeper soil layers drives water extraction by roots. Modelling and measurements have shown that dry soils, especially with sandy texture, create abrupt water potential gradient in the rhizosphere. At the scale of the thin contact between the soil and roots, the hydraulic continuity could be lost

Aims Infections with soil-borne pathogens have considerable detrimental effects on asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) growth and production, notably caused by the Fusarium species F. oxysporum f.sp. asparagi, F. proliferatum, and F. redolens. To get insight into the systemic effects of fungal infection on plant physiology to identify candidate resistance traits, we investigated this interaction using

Aims and scope Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form soil hyphal networks that facilitate plant nutrient uptake. AM fungi can be less effective plant-mutualists in cultivated fields because agricultural stressors reduce their functional diversity and may favour a less mutualistic genotype. Previously, we showed restoration of retired cultivated fields stimulated AM fungal species diversity. Here,

Background and aims Characterizing the responses of soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions to agricultural management practices is essential for understanding SOC stability in agroecosystems. To establish a rational soil management regime for wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) production, this study investigated the long-term effects of cover cropping with manure on the storage of SOC and its fractions in

Background and aims Plant invasion can alter litter decomposition, which is essential for nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to explore how plant invasion affects litter decomposition by altering soil properties, litter quality and their interactions. Methods We conducted a reciprocal decomposition experiment by decomposing

Purpose Accelerated grassland degradation due to global climate change and intensified human activities necessitates green and sustainable ecological restoration measures. Microbial and organic fertilizer composites have shown positive effects in agricultural soil improvement. However, the effects on soil nutrient cycling and plant growth of microbial inoculants alone or in combination with organic

Aims Plant inputs are the primary organic carbon source that transforms into soil organic matter (SOM) through microbial processing. One prevailing view is that lignin plays a major role in the accumulation of SOM. This study investigated lignin decomposition using wood from different genotypes of Populus tremula as the model substrate. The genotypes naturally varied in lignin content and composition

Background and aims Drought and heavy metals (HMs) stress significantly impact maize (Zea mays L.), which is crucial for global food security. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and melatonin (MT) in alleviating the detrimental effects of drought and HMs’ stress on the growth and development of maize. Methods Maize plants were exposed to lead (Pb)

Background and aims Urban trees in coastal cities like Hong Kong may suffer from an uprooting failure when subjected to extreme winds. A proper numerical model for tree uprooting simulation can help to select tree species or soil types that better resist uprooting failure. However, modeling tree uprooting is challenging as it is a cross-disciplinary problem involving complex root system architectures

Purpose The relationship between root tensile strengths and diameters is often fitted using power law curves. More accurate fitting methodologies were developed, investigating a) the validity of least-squares regression assumptions underlying existing methods, b) how to best quantify intra-diameter variation, and c) whether to fit in terms of tensile strength or tensile force at failure. Methods Regression

The number of studies investigating root length has increased, particularly in the context of root length measurements observed through windows such as minirhizotrons and rhizoboxes. However, there are currently two obstacles constraining their broader utility: (1) the absence of standardized terminology or units for root length data, and (2) the translation from two-dimensional (2D) to three-dimensional

Background and aims Enhancing selenium (Se) accumulation in crops is an important way to overcome human Se deficiency. However, increasing the Se content in the soil can produce toxic effects in crops. This study aimed to clarify the role of exogenous foliar jasmonic acid (JA) on alleviating Se toxicity of pak choi exposed to high levels of Se-toxicity in the soil. Methods Pak choi were exposed to

The research interests of John Albert Raven, who died on 23 May 2024 aged 82, extended in scale from plant cell biochemistry and physiology through whole-plant physiology and ecophysiology to plant ecology and evolution of aquatic and terrestrial plants and even astrobiology. He collected and collated an enormous amount of information for which he had a powerful memory. He collaborated widely with