TY - JOUR
T1 - Root traits explain multitrophic interactions of belowground microfauna on soil nitrogen mineralization and plant productivity
AU - Hu, Junwei
AU - Hassi, Ummehani
AU - Gebremikael, Mesfin Tsegaye
AU - Dumack, Kenneth
AU - De Swaef, Tom
AU - Wesemael, Wim
AU - Sleutel, Steven
AU - De Neve, Stefaan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/9
Y1 - 2023/9
N2 - Both herbivorous and bacterivorous microfauna have been shown to influence root development, soil nitrogen (N) mineralization, and plant productivity. However, our knowledge of these effects is limited as multitrophic interactions remain largely unexplored. We investigated whether and how herbivorous nematodes (Pratylenchus zeae) and bacterivorous nematodes (Poikilolaimus oxycercus), alone and in combination, affect plant biomass (Lolium multiflorum) through root traits and/or soil N mineralization. Bacterivorous nematodes increased, whereas herbivorous nematodes decreased, plant productivity. We found that root trait coordination in response to soil microfauna was consistent with the concept of root economics space. The negative interaction between herbivorous and bacterivorous nematodes on plant productivity at high herbivorous nematode infestation could be explained by reduced N mineralization and variation in the root nitrogen concentration-root tissue density (RNC-RTD) axis aligned with increased herbivory intensity. This study revealed that herbivorous and bacterivorous nematodes moderated each other's effect on plant productivity via root trait coordination and N mineralization, and suggests, for the first time, the value of the root economics space concept for interpreting phenotypic root plasticity and functioning in response to local biotic factors.
AB - Both herbivorous and bacterivorous microfauna have been shown to influence root development, soil nitrogen (N) mineralization, and plant productivity. However, our knowledge of these effects is limited as multitrophic interactions remain largely unexplored. We investigated whether and how herbivorous nematodes (Pratylenchus zeae) and bacterivorous nematodes (Poikilolaimus oxycercus), alone and in combination, affect plant biomass (Lolium multiflorum) through root traits and/or soil N mineralization. Bacterivorous nematodes increased, whereas herbivorous nematodes decreased, plant productivity. We found that root trait coordination in response to soil microfauna was consistent with the concept of root economics space. The negative interaction between herbivorous and bacterivorous nematodes on plant productivity at high herbivorous nematode infestation could be explained by reduced N mineralization and variation in the root nitrogen concentration-root tissue density (RNC-RTD) axis aligned with increased herbivory intensity. This study revealed that herbivorous and bacterivorous nematodes moderated each other's effect on plant productivity via root trait coordination and N mineralization, and suggests, for the first time, the value of the root economics space concept for interpreting phenotypic root plasticity and functioning in response to local biotic factors.
KW - Bacterivorous microfauna
KW - Herbivorous nematodes
KW - Multitrophic interactions
KW - Root economics space
KW - Root traits
KW - Soil N mineralization
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85164248095&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.soilbio.2023.109093
DO - 10.1016/j.soilbio.2023.109093
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85164248095
SN - 0038-0717
VL - 184
JO - Soil Biology and Biochemistry
JF - Soil Biology and Biochemistry
M1 - 109093
ER -