Plant and Soil最新文献

{"title":"The isolation, identification, whole-genome sequencing of Trichoderma brevicompactum TB2 and its effects on plant growth-promotion","authors":"Hao Li, Zuohereguli Kuerban, Rou Jiang, Feixue He, Xiao Hu, Yangchun Xu, Caixia Dong, Qirong Shen","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07304-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07304-x","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Aims</h3><p><i>Trichoderma</i> species are recognized for their plant growth-promoting and biocontrol properties. This study aimed to isolate effective <i>Trichoderma</i> strains from the rhizosphere of pear (<i>Pyrus betulifolia</i> Bunge) trees and evaluate their growth-promoting effects on various plant species.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>Ten <i>Trichoderma</i> strains were isolated using a gradient dilution plating method, and <i>Trichoderma brevicompactum</i> TB2 was selected through laboratory and greenhouse experiments. The growth-promoting properties of TB2 were assessed in pot experiments with cucumber (<i>Cucumis sativus</i> L.) and apple rootstock (<i>Malus hupehensis</i> Rehd) seedlings. Whole-genome sequencing was performed to annotate TB2 genes across various databases and predict secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters. Production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophores, and iron-solubilizing capabilities were measured.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>TB2 showed high production of IAA, siderophores, and iron-solubilizing abilities. The draft genome, spanning 18 scaffolds totaling 38.70 Mb with 10,436 protein-coding genes, revealed 431 genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes involved in metabolic pathways. Application of TB2 spore suspension (1.0 × 10⁶ CFU/g soil) significantly increased fresh and dry weights across all tested plants and enhanced root development metrics in <i>C. sativus</i> and <i>P. betulifolia</i> seedlings. TB2 inoculation also boosted major and minor nutrient levels in the leaves of <i>M. hupehensis</i> seedlings.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>TB2 exhibits strong growth-promoting effects across different plant species, improving physiological indicators such as plant height, stem diameter, and biomass, while enhancing nutrient absorption without host specificity. TB2 can thus be utilized as an excellent agricultural microbial resource strain.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143518806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Differential phenological responses of plant functional types to the temporal repackaging of precipitation in a semiarid grassland","authors":"Fangyue Zhang, Joel A. Biederman, Charles John Devine, Nathan A. Pierce, Dong Yan, Daniel L. Potts, William K. Smith","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07323-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07323-8","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Aims</h3><p>Large portions of the western United States have witnessed extended dry intervals between rainfall events due to an intensified hydrological cycle triggered by global warming. Semiarid ecosystems in these regions are particularly susceptible to temporal repackaging of rainfall, but how such rainfall repackaging alters plant phenology remains unknown.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We examined the effects of rainfall temporal repackaging during the growing season (July–September, from frequent/small events to infrequent/large events, with constant total seasonal rainfall) on plant phenology through a manipulative experiment in a semiarid grassland ecosystem. Using automated high-frequency digital photography, we monitored canopy and plant greenness at both the plot and plant functional type levels, and derived phenological metrics including the start, end and length of the growing season.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>We found that canopy onset was delayed by 17 to 24 days under infrequent/large events compared to normal historical pattern, with no significant differences among these treatments in canopy descent or growing season length. The phenology metrics of plant functional types showed opposite responses to rainfall repackaging. Perennial grasses had a longer growing season, while annuals had a shorter season under infrequent/large events compared to frequent/small events. Furthermore, growing season length of perennial grasses responded more strongly to deep than shallow soil water conditions.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>Our analysis demonstrates the potential of high-frequency plant monitoring to enhance our fundamental understanding of community composition and ecological processes that shape semiarid ecosystem responses to rainfall temporal repackaging and its implications for global biogeochemical cycling.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143518639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics under conservation agriculture components for direct seeded rice-green gram system","authors":"Gayatri Patra, Dibyendu Chatterjee, Khitish Chandra Moharana, Bitish Kumar Nayak, Rahul Tripathi, Mohammad Shahid, Dipti Ranjan Pani, Saikat Ranjan Das, Bipin Bihari Panda, Sushmita Munda, Upendra Kumar, Abhijit Pradhan, Amaresh Kumar Nayak","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07318-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07318-5","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Aims and methods</h3><p>Conservation agriculture practices have been developed for rice-based cropping systems in eastern India to mitigate the negative effects of continuous monocropping. However, the effects of individual and combined conservation agriculture components on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization, soil enzyme activities, and C and N fractions are unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of key components of conservation agriculture such as, reduced tillage, crop residue retention and crop diversification both individually and in combinations with the control making 8 treatments, on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics under direct seeded rice-green gram system.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Reduced tillage alone and in combination with diversification resulted in 10% and 6% lower CO₂-C release than the plots with residue retained. Carbon mineralization in terms of mean cumulative CO₂-C (mg CO₂-C kg⁻¹) fits well with first-order kinetics (R² = 0.97–0.99), suggesting that degradation is concentration-dependent. Potentially mineralizable N content ranged from 192.2–222.4 kg ha⁻¹ day⁻¹ with mineralization half-time of 28.1–32.3 days. Diversification alone showed the highest dehydrogenase (43–127% higher than control at all stages), fluorescein di-acetate (22–62% higher than control at maximum tillering and panicle initiation stages) and β-glucosidase (27–40% higher than control in all stages) activities, while residue retention in the rice-green gram system showed the highest nitrate reductase activity (53–83% higher than control at maximum tillering and panicle initiation stages). At all growth stages, diversification had the highest values for microbial biomass C, ammonium N and nitrate N which were 59–95%, 22–53% and 2.2–10 times higher than the control, respectively.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>The effect of conservation agriculture component, such as crop diversification and residue retention in direct seeded rice-green gram system, is more effective for better C and N cycling. While reduced tillage may take longer to show effects, enzymatic activities have significantly increased under diversification and residue retention. By diversifying crops and retaining crop residues, the soil is able to maintain higher levels of C and N. Additionally, the increase in soil enzyme activities improves microbial activity, which can further enhance nutrient availability for plants. The synergistic effect of residue retention and crop diversification is beneficial for improving soil health in this system.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Graphical abstract</h3>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"66 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143507100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Restoration of submerged vegetation mitigates internal nitrogen and phosphorus loading in a shallow lake","authors":"Weicheng Yu, Ligong Wang, Jiahe Li, Ce Zhou, Gulin Wang, Fuchao Li, Xiaowen Ma, Shufeng Fan, Chunhua Liu, Dan Yu","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07321-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07321-w","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background and aim</h3><p>Sediments serve as the primary reservoir for nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients in lakes, and the release of these nutrients plays a crucial role in contributing to lake eutrophication. The restoration of submerged vegetation has emerged as a promising area of lake ecosystem research and is recognized as an effective method for managing eutrophic lakes. However, the validity of previous findings may be compromised by artificial experimental conditions and the brief duration of the studies, potentially underestimating the long-term effectiveness of submerged plants in restoring eutrophic lakes.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We restored a eutrophic lake through the reconstruction of submerged vegetation. Continuous sampling and monitoring of lake water and sediments were conducted throughout the project. By analyzing the spatiotemporal variations and factors driving nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the overlying water and sediments, we explored the effects of the restoration of submerged vegetation on nitrogen and phosphorus loading in the sediment‒water system.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>The restoration of submerged vegetation significantly improved the environmental conditions in overlying water in the lake by increasing transparency and dissolved oxygen levels while reducing nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. Moreover, throughout their growth period, submerged plants could significantly reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads in surface sediments (0–5 cm), particularly the concentrations of organic nitrogen (ON), ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), Ca-bound P (Ca-P), and P bound to Fe, Al and Mn oxides and hydroxides (Fe–P).</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>Our findings suggest that the restoration of submerged vegetation effectively controlled the nutrient loads of nitrogen and phosphorus in the overlying water and sediments of the lake. To further stabilize and extend the function of submerged plants in controlling internal nutrients and purifying water quality, it is necessary to strengthen the construction of a multi-seasonal and age-structured submerged plant community to promote the benign cycle of the lake ecosystem.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143506836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A study on growth dynamics, heat accumulation and phenological stages under subtropical conditions: optimizing litchi cultivation","authors":"Shiv Kumar Shivandu, Shashi K. Sharma","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07305-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07305-w","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Aim</h3><p>Litchi (<i>Litchi chinensis</i>) is a commercially valuable subtropical fruit, and understanding its phenology is crucial for optimizing orchard management and improving fruit production. This study investigates the phenological development of litchi <i>cv.</i> Dehradun under the subtropical climate of Himachal Pradesh, using the extended BBCH (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt, and Chemische Industrie) scale.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>Studies conducted from 2021 to 2023, focuses on key growth stages such as bud break, leaf and shoot development, inflorescence emergence, flowering, fruit development, and maturity. Heat unit accumulation, measured through growing degree days (GDD), was tracked at each stage to provide a detailed phenological profile.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>The study identifies 74 distinct secondary growth stages, offering precise descriptions of each phenophase. Results show that temperature plays a critical role in determining the success of flowering and fruit set, with deviations impacting flowering intensity and fruit quality. The phenological data derived from the BBCH scale has been suggested as a guide to the litchi growers in optimizing irrigation schedules, pest control, and the use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) to enhance fruit quality and yield.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>This study provides a framework for sustainable litchi cultivation by aligning agricultural practices with the crop’s developmental needs according to the growing degree days, minimizing input costs and environmental impact.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143495331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stand density influences soil organic carbon stocks and fractions by mediating soil biochemical properties in Mongolian pine plantations","authors":"Yansong Zhang, De-Hui Zeng, Zimeng Sheng, Qing-Wei Wang, Dapao Yu, Guigang Lin","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07317-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07317-6","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Purpose</h3><p>Climate warming has increased interests in establishing plantations to enhance carbon (C) sequestration. As a fundamental factor, planting density can profoundly influence tree growth and mortality. Although the effect of stand density on tree biomass C stocks is well known, how it affects soil organic C (SOC) stocks and stability remains largely uncertain. Here, we explored mechanisms behind stand density effects on SOC stocks and fractions.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We leveraged 25 of 40-year-old Mongolian pine (<i>Pinus sylvestris</i> var. <i>mongolica</i>) stands with stand densities ranging from 350 to 1500 trees per hectare, and measured tree biomass C stocks, litter quantity and quality, soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) concentrations, microbial biomass, C-degrading enzymes, and SOC stocks and fractions.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Ecosystem C stocks logarithmically increased with increasing stand densities, and this C accretion was ascribed to tree biomass C sequestration. Mineral-associated organic C (MAOC) stocks in the 0–10 cm soil layer decreased with increasing stand densities, which was related to the decline of soil cellobiohydrolase activity and total P concentration. The decrease of litter C:N ratio was associated with the increase of particulate organic C (POC) stocks in the 10–20 cm soil layer with increasing stand densities. Moreover, stand density had positive effects on POC and MAOC stocks in the 20–40 cm but not in the 40–100 cm soil layers.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>These findings highlight that stand density alters the vertical distribution of SOC stocks and suggest that soil biochemical properties and litter quality mediate the dynamics of SOC stocks and fractions along the stand density.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"51 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143506969","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of seasonal precipitation regimes on soil nitrogen transformation in a subtropical forest: Insights from a manipulation experiment","authors":"Yongkang Ji, Nan Ma, Petr Heděnec, Yan Peng, Kai Yue, Jianxiao Zhu, Hui Zhang, Junjiong Shao, Lita Yi, Cuihuan Li, Qiqian Wu, Yan Li","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07311-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07311-y","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background and aims</h3><p>Seasonal precipitation regimes can affect soil nitrogen (N) transformation rates, yet the underlying driving factors remain poorly studied.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a precipitation manipulation experiment in a subtropical forest in China from 2020 to 2022. We utilized the in situ resin-core method to assess soil physicochemical properties, microbial biomass, net nitrification rate (<i>N</i>_nit) and net N mineralization rate (<i>N</i>_min) under three treatments: control (CK), decreased precipitation by 50% during the dry season with extremely increased precipitation (≥ 50 mm) during the wet season (IE) and decreased precipitation by 50% during the dry season with proportionally increased precipitation (≤ 20 mm) during the wet season (IP).</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>IE and IP significantly decreased <i>N</i>_nit (57.9% and 72.5%, respectively) and <i>N</i>_min (82.5% and 89.6%, respectively) during the dry season. However, the results were reversed during the wet season (increased by 64.3% and 79.5% and by 64.2% and 81.1%, respectively), and the effects of IP were significantly stronger than those of IE. Structural equation modeling indicated that seasonal precipitation regimes significantly affected <i>N</i>_nit and <i>N</i>_min by changing soil water content, NH₄⁺-N, microbial biomass N and soil C:N ratio. Moreover, <i>N</i>_nit and <i>N</i>_min were mainly influenced by soil physicochemical properties during the dry season, whereas microbial biomass played a more important role during the wet season.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>Seasonal precipitation regimes can significantly affect <i>N</i>_nit and <i>N</i>_min in forest ecosystems, with the magnitude of these effects varying depending on the specific form of the seasonal precipitation regime. </p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143486018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Negative effects of elevated ozone levels on soil microbial characteristics: a meta-analysis","authors":"Xiaofei Lu, Jie Li, Xinyi Zhou, Xu Yue","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07309-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07309-6","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background and aims</h3><p>The effects of elevated tropospheric ozone (O₃) concentrations on terrestrial ecosystems have been extensively researched by numerous O₃ fumigation experiments and syntheses. While the detrimental impacts of O₃ stress on aboveground plant physiological traits are well-documented, there remains a gap in our understanding of how elevated O₃ influences soil microbes and plant–microbe interactions.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>Here, we synthesized data from 71 O₃ fumigation experiments conducted globally to evaluate the effects of elevated O₃ on soil microbial characteristics, including biomass, community composition, and extracellular enzyme activities (EEAs).</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Elevated O₃ led to an average reduction of 14.2% in microbial biomass carbon (MBC). It was largely attributable to decreased plant carbon input, as the effect size of MBC was closely correlated with declines in both aboveground and root biomass. Fungal communities appeared more vulnerable to O₃ stress than bacterial communities, as evidenced by a 10.7% decrease in fungal phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), while total and bacterial PLFAs were only marginally affected. Furthermore, the negative impacts on microbes intensified with increasing O₃ concentrations but tended to diminish over time. In addition, elevated O₃ significantly reduced hydrolytic EEAs, which target simple compounds, by 12.9%, while increasing oxidative EEAs, which degrade recalcitrant compounds, by 12.0%. It suggests that O₃ stress would affect the decomposition of soil organic matter by shifting EEAs.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>Elevated O₃ impairs soil microbial growth and changes microbial C utilization strategies, which could profoundly impact C cycling in terrestrial ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143486019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spectral clustering analysis: discrimination of grass-herb roots and live-dead roots in VISNIR and SWIR regions","authors":"Pavel Baykalov, Gernot Bodner, Ivika Ostonen, Boris Rewald","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07306-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07306-9","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background and aims</h3><p>Hyperspectral imaging is becoming a key, high-throughput technique in plant research. However, its application to roots has not yet received sufficient attention. The aims of this study are to identify spectral features that distinguish fine roots from soil, non-woody roots of different species, and dead from living roots, and to identify appropriate analytical techniques.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>Roots of <i>Alopecurus pratensis</i> (meadow foxtail) and <i>Urtica dioica</i> (nettle) and the rhizosphere were imaged in rhizoboxes in the wavelength range 400–1700 nm, covering both visible near- (VISNIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) regions. Principal Component Analysis, K-means clustering, and Generalised Linear Model, Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis, and Distributed Random Forest models were used to classify groups. Wavebands critical for classification were identified.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Our results demonstrate the intricate nature of spectra clustering, highlighting the challenges in the VISNIR range and the promise of SWIR data for enhanced separability. While species differentiation is challenging, the determination of the living conditions of the roots is possible within the SWIR range. The analysis reveals the significance of specific spectral regions, notably those associated with water content and senescence, in distinguishing between living and dead roots. Water content regions (mainly 1245 nm and 1450 nm) were most important in discriminating between roots and soil.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>This study highlights the potential of spectral analysis, particularly in the SWIR region, for distinguishing roots by species and vitality. Further efforts are needed to develop robust methods for mixed data sets containing roots of different species and degrees of vitality.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143477734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mixed grass–legume pastures in integrated crop-livestock systems: A strategy to improve soil health and soybean yield in the Brazilian Cerrado","authors":"Luiz Gustavo de O. Denardin, Juliana M. A. S. Moraes, Davi S. Tavares, Gabriela C. Pires, Laércio S. Silva, Leandro P. Pacheco, Flávio J. Wruck, Marco A. C. Carneiro, Edicarlos D. Souza","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07307-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07307-8","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Aims</h3><p>The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different mixed grass-legume pastures compared to single grass cultivation as the second crop of an integrated crop livestock system (ICLS) in Brazilian Cerrado on (i) soil organic carbon and nitrogen pools, (ii) microbial biomass, enzyme and microbial activity of the soil, (iii) soil health, and (iv) soybean grain yield in succession.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>In this experiment, the soybean was cultivated in the summer season, with the subsequent treatments with two grasses (<i>Urochloa ruziziensis</i> or <i>Urochloa brizantha</i>), single or intercropped with Cowpea (<i>Vigna unguiculata</i>) or Pigeon pea (<i>Cajanus cajan</i>), and soil collections were carried out 2 years after the implementation of the experiment, which was in 2015.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Regardless of the grass species, Cowpea intercropping yielded 28% more soybeans than single-cropped grasses. The intercropping effects on soybean yield were directly related to improvements in soil biological and biochemical properties since there was a higher microbial biomass and activity, and enzymatic activity in the soil. In addition to the higher basal respiration and metabolic quotient (<i>q</i>CO₂), the lower microbial quotient (<i>q</i>MIC) indicates a microbial stress condition in grass monoculture compared to mixed grass-legume pastures.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>The mixed grass-legume pastures are effective strategies to increase C and N stocks in different soil pools under integrated crop-livestock systems, reflecting increases in soybean grain yield. Grass-legume intercropping in the pasture phase of ICLS is an additional tool to maximize soil health improvements and soybean yields in the short term.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Graphical abstract</h3>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143477733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}