Phenolic Acids in Plant-Soil-Microbe System: A Review

Phenolic acids are very common compounds in pedosphere. Theobjective of this review was to summarize the current knowledge ofthe behaviors of phenolic acids in plant-soil microbe system. Whenphenolic acids originated form leaching, decomposition and exudationof living and dead plant tissues enter soils, they can reactphysiochemically with soil particle surfaces and/or incorporate intohumic matter. Phenolic acids desorbed from soil particle surfaces andremained in solution phase can be utilized by microbe as carbonsources and absorbed by plants.

Effects of nitrogen addition on plant-soil-microbe stoichio-metry characteristics of different functional group species in Bothriochloa ischemum community

Nitrogen(N)deposition,the source of N input into terrestrial ecosystems,is exhibiting an increasingly serious impact on the biogeochemical cycle and functional stability of ecosystems.Grasslands are an important component of terrestrial ecosystems and play a key role in maintaining terrestrial ecosystem balance.Therefore,it is critical to understand the effects of nitrogen addition on grassland ecosystems.We conducted gradientN addition experiments(0,3,6,and 9 g N m^(-2)2 y^(-1))for threeyears ingrassland communities with similar site conditions.We utilized four typical herbaceous plants,including the dominant species Bothriochloa ischemum(B.ischemum)and companion species Stipa bungeana(S.bungeana),Artemisia gmelinii(A.gmelinii),and Cleistogenes squarrosa(C.squarrosa),to explore how different plant-soil-microbe systems respond to N addition.Stoichiometric homeostasis analysis demonstrated that both plants and microbes were strictly homeostatic.However,the companion species were found to be more susceptible to P dominant species.Furthermore,aggravated overlap in stoichiometric niches between plant species were observed at the N6 and N9 levels.Vector analysis indicated that the vector angle was>45°regardlessof plant species and N levels,suggesting that there was a strong Plimitation in the rhizosphere microbial community.Variation partitioning analysis revealed that the Composite roots exhibited a greater effect(explaining 34.7% of the variation)on the rhizosphere microbes than on the Gramineae,indicating that there may be more intense nutrient competition in its rhizosphere.Ingeneral,the effects of N addition on species were different a cross functional groups,with a significant positive effect on the Gramineae(B.ischemum,S.bungeana,and C.squarrosa)and a significant negative effecton the Compositae(A.gmelinii),which should be fully considered in the future ecological management and restoration.

Effects of Elevated CO_2 and Drought on Plant Physiology, Soil Carbon and Soil Enzyme Activities

Global climate models have indicated high probability of drought occurrences in the coming future decades due to the impacts of climate change caused by a mass release of CO2. Thus, climate change regarding elevated ambient CO2 and drought may consequently affect the growth of crops. In this study, plant physiology, soil carbon, and soil enzyme activities were measured to investigate the impacts of elevated C02 and drought stress on a Stagn[c Anthrosol planted with soybean （Glycine ma,z）. Treatments of two CO2 levels, three soil moisture levels, and two soil cover types were established. The results indicated that elevated CO2 and drought stress significantly affected plant physiology. The inhibition of plant physiology by drought stress was mediated via prompted photosynthesis and water use efficiency under elevated CO2 conditions. Elevated CO2 resulted in a longer retention time of dissolved organic carbon （DOC） in soil, probably by improving the soil water effectiveness for organic decomposition and mineralization. Drought stress significantly decreased C：N ratio and microbial biomass carbon （MBC）, but the interactive effects of drought stress and CO2 on them were not significant. Elevated CO2 induced an increase in invertase and catalase activities through stimulated plant root exudation. These results suggested that drought stress had significant negative impacts on plant physiology, soil carbon, and soil enzyme activities, whereas elevated CO2 and plant physiological feedbacks indirectly ameliorated these impacts.