Plant and Soil最新文献

{"title":"Customized microbial inoculants enhance rhizosheath functionality and drive ecosystem restoration in desertified grasslands","authors":"Qiqi Han, Weimeng Liu, Yingjie Jiang, Pengyuan Yang, Zixuan Wang, Ziyuan Yan, Zhuo Zhang, Rui Xu, Hui Tang, Guixia Liu","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07524-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07524-1","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Aims</h3><p>This study aimed to develop microbial inoculants composed of functional strains isolated from the rhizosheath of <i>Agropyron cristatum</i> (L.) Gaertn., a pioneer species in desertified grasslands, and to evaluate their effects on root exudates, rhizosheath properties, and microbial community composition. The ultimate goal was to enhance rhizosheath functionality and promote plant growth.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>Microbial inoculants were formulated by combining functional strains in various proportions. A short-term greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess changes in root exudates, including sugars, proteins, and organic acids, as well as key rhizosheath soil parameters: seedling height, soil weight, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), available phosphorus (AP), and available nitrogen (AN). Metagenomic sequencing was employed to analyze the microbial community composition and diversity in rhizosheath soil.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Microbial inoculants significantly increased the concentrations of sugars, proteins, and tartaric acid in root exudates, lowered rhizosheath soil pH, and enhanced seedling height, EC, and soil nutrient content (OM, AP, and AN). Metagenomic sequencing revealed that inoculation altered the composition of the rhizosheath microbial community, increasing the relative abundance of bacterial phyla such as Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes, as well as the fungal phylum Ascomycota. Root exudate composition, particularly soluble sugars and proteins, was closely associated with microbial community shifts.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>Customized microbial inoculants significantly improved rhizosheath properties, reshaped microbial community composition, and promoted plant growth in <i>A. cristatum</i>. These findings provide valuable insights into the application of microbial inoculants for ecological restoration in desertified grasslands by improving soil health and enhancing plant productivity. </p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144104739","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":"Wind-blown litter transports more carbon and nutrients than wind-blown dust in semi-arid steppes","authors":"Yuhong Luo, Yurong Cai, Na Zhu, Le Li, Nuo Xu, Yufan Bao, Yuchun Yan","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07535-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07535-y","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background and aims</h3><p>Wind-driven litter and dust transportation are ubiquitous worldwide, exerting significant ecological influences across diverse landscapes. However, the litter and dust fluxes and the carbon and nutrients they carry remain unclear.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We conducted six years of synchronous observations of litter and dust fluxes at three sites in a semi-arid steppe in Inner Mongolia, northern China.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Our findings revealed that the horizontal flux of litter exceeded that of dust, with higher levels occurring during the non-growing season than during the growing season. Vertically, both litter and dust fluxes decreased exponentially as the height from the ground increased. Tumble plant biomass and wind emerged as primary litter transport drivers, while an increase in blowing dust days and wind velocity enhanced dust flux significantly. However, vegetation factors, including coverage, height, and aboveground biomass, exhibited negative correlations with dust flux. We discovered that wind-driven litter carries significantly more carbon and nutrients than dust.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>These findings emphasize that wind-blown litter and dust play crucial roles in redistributing organic carbon and nutrients, thereby enhancing the spatial heterogeneity of these resources in arid and semi-arid ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144104829","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":"Maximizing French bean yield, water use efficiency, and profitability using precision drip irrigation and organic mulching","authors":"Shradha Chauhan, Ghanshyam Agrawal, Pardeep Kumar, Anjali Chauhan","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07529-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07529-w","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background</h3><p>Water scarcity poses a significant constraint to agricultural productivity worldwide, affecting crop growth, yield, and quality across various regions. In water-scarce environments, the combined application of drip irrigation and mulching has become a common practice for optimizing water use.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Aim</h3><p>This study aimed to assess the influence of different irrigation levels, based on crop-evapotranspiration (ETc) and organic mulches on the growth, yield, soil properties, and economic returns of French bean in mid-hill region of Himachal Pradesh, India.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>The experiment was conducted using various combinations of drip irrigation levels (100%, 80%, and 60% ETc) and organic mulches, including grass and pine needle mulch, along with a control (no mulch and surface irrigation). Observations were recorded for yield and yield attributes, available soil macronutrients, soil microbial viability, water use efficiency (WUE), and economic performance.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>The treatment I₂M₁, comprising drip irrigation at 80% ETc with grass mulch, significantly improved plant height, number of pods per plant, and reduced days to harvest, ultimately yielding the highest production among all treatments. This combination enhanced soil macronutrient availability, microbial viability, and WUE, achieving water savings of 32.26% compared to the control. Moreover, I₂M₁ demonstrated a favorable benefit–cost ratio (BCR) of 2.45, indicating its economic viability.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>Drip irrigation at 80% ETc combined with grass mulch proved to be the most efficient and cost-effective strategy for optimizing water use, improving yield, and enhancing soil health. The findings underscore the potential of integrated irrigation and mulching practices in addressing water scarcity, boosting agricultural productivity, and strengthening food security.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"105 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144114027","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":"Synthetic soil microcosms as emerging model systems to study the rhizosphere","authors":"Andrew Mair, Daniel Patko, Yangminghao Liu, Ilonka Engelhardt, Lionel X. Dupuy","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07495-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07495-3","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background</h3><p>Root and soil interactions are generally difficult for biologists to study due to the challenges of obtaining measurements deep within soil. Nowadays, techniques from other disciplines are increasingly being adopted to build soil microcosms from artificial substrates and engineered microbiota, and conducting experiments within these new model systems is facilitating collection of higher quality data.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Scope</h3><p>This article reviews the emergence of such synthetic soil microcosms and covers the materials and technologies used to construct their various components. For example, synthetic soils, microfluidic systems, and integrated sensors, as well as the methods employed to assemble synthetic microbial communities and incorporate biochemical compounds released by roots. Synthetic soil microcosms are drastically improving the availability and richness of data on rhizosphere processes, and we explain how this is advancing the development of models and theory to better understand root and soil interactions.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>The development of synthetic soil microcosms is still in its early stages, with current literature primarily comprised of feasibility studies and proof-of-concept reports. Nevertheless, the consolidation of knowledge, tools and techniques should, with time, lead to fully developed systems, which can be routinely applied in laboratories and considerably enhance our ability to predict rhizosphere responses to environmental conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144104740","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":"Interactive effects of nitrogen addition and drought on soil microbial carbon use efficiency in saline–alkaline grasslands of northern China","authors":"Huajie Diao, Jingjing Wang, Yicong Chen, Yangyang Gao, Wenjun Liang, Gaoliang Pang, Jiachen Bian, Jianyu Wang, Jie Hao, Changhui Wang, Xiang Zhao, Kuanhu Dong","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07483-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07483-7","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Aims</h3><p>Understanding changes in soil microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) and microbial biomass turnover time are of great significance for increasing ecosystem C sequestration and achieving the strategic goal of C neutrality. However, the response of soil microbial CUE to nitrogen (N) deposition during extreme drought and wetness events in saline–alkaline grasslands remains unclear.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>Herein, using an innovative substrate-independent method by incorporating the isotope from H₂¹⁸O into the DNA of microorganisms, the soil microbial CUE under N addition and precipitation changes (± 50% of natural precipitation) were studied.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Results showed that the microbial CUE was ranged from 0.29 to 0.59, with an average of 0.46. N addition and precipitation changes alone had no significant effect on soil microbial CUE. N addition combined with drought showed significantly negative influences on the relative changes in soil microbial CUE (decreased by 16.3%), while showed significantly positive influences on microbial biomass turnover time (increased by 96.0%). There was a negative correlation between the soil microbial CUE and microbial biomass turnover time. Microbial CUE was positively correlated with plant biomass, soil water content, and soil bacterial abundance, whereas it was negatively correlated with soil dissolved organic C and soil fungal abundance. Variation partitioning analysis showed that plants, soil environment, soil available nutrients, and soil microbes co-regulated the variation in soil microbial CUE, and the plant biomass, soil fungi, and SWC were the core factors that affected soil microbial CUE.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>Overall, we highlighted that N addition reduces soil C sequestration potential under droughts conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144097535","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":"Short-term thinning effects on saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal soil fungal communities in a Pinus halepensis common garden","authors":"Giada Centenaro, Sergio de-Miguel, Jordi Voltas, José Antonio Bonet, Svetlana Dashevskaya, Josu G. Alday","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07536-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07536-x","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background and aim</h3><p>Soil fungal communities can vary in their abundance and diversity between host tree species, but also between genotypes within the same host tree species. However, there are conflicting results on the role of host tree genetics in shaping soil fungal communities and how silvicultural treatments can influence their dynamics.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We investigated whether genetic variation among 20 populations representing five ecotypes of <i>Pinus halepensis,</i> the most widespread tree species in the Mediterranean basin, affects their soil fungal community, before and after a thinning treatment. Seedlings from these 20 populations were planted in 1996 in a common garden experiment (eastern Spain) under uniform climatic and soil conditions. In October 2019, a 50% thinning treatment was carried out and soil samples were collected immediately before and one year after thinning.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Before thinning, no significant differences in soil fungal composition were observed between ecotypes. However, saprotrophic richness increased significantly in three ecotypes and saprotrophic diversity in one ecotype one year after thinning. Conversely, the ectomycorrhizal fungal community diversity and composition of the five ecotypes showed non-significant changes following thinning.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>Our results suggest that genetic differentiation in the host tree plays a minor role in shaping the ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic communities of Mediterranean Aleppo pine forests. Furthermore, the contrasting response of the ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic communities to thinning treatment highlights the resilience of ectomycorrhizal communities to short-term disturbances such as thinning, while emphasizing the ability of the saprotrophic communities to exploit newly available resources.\u0000</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144088322","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":"Bio-organic fertilizer mitigates Orobanche cumana parasitism by regulating sunflower transcriptomes and rhizosphere microbial community","authors":"Tengqi Xu, Jiao Xi, Yufan Wang, Yiqiong Zhang, Jihong Ke, Xiaomin Wei, Yanbing Lin","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07542-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07542-z","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background and aims</h3><p><i>Orobanche cumana</i> Wallr. is a holoparasitic weed that poses an increasing threat to sunflower cultivation. However, the influence of bio-organic fertilizers on <i>O. cumana</i>, remains inadequately understood. This study investigates the relationship between sunflower microbial community and <i>O. cumana</i> parasitism, as well as the inhibitory mechanism of bio-organic fertilizers on <i>O. cumana</i>.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>Field investigation was conducted to study the response mechanisms of host microbial communities to parasitic plants using amplicon techniques. Pot experiment, the transcriptome was employed to investigate the mechanism by which bio-organic fertilizer inhibits <i>O. cumana</i> parasitism. Field experiments were conducted to explore changes in sunflower yield, quality and rhizosphere microecology.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>The results revealed rhizosphere bacterial community composition shifted notably with escalating parasite number. Bio-organic fertilizers application markedly upregulated the expression of <i>Mn-SOD</i>, <i>GST</i>, <i>XTH9</i>, <i>ACC01</i> and <i>NPR1</i> genes associated with plant resistance, and significantly increased the levels of the fruit ripening-related hormones ACC and tZTR. Application of bio-organic fertilizer remolded the rhizosphere microbial structure and significantly increased seed yield and crude protein content of sunflower. Upon applying bio-organic fertilizers, <i>O. cumana</i> roots exhibited decay-inducing fungal colonization, yet the isolated strain <i>Fusarium solani</i> L5 significantly reducing the number of parasites.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>Bio-organic fertilizers demonstrated efficacy in suppressing <i>O. cumana</i> parasitism while enhancing sunflower productivity and quality. The results enhance our understanding of bio-organic fertilizers for controlling parasitic plants, offering insights into overcoming agricultural challenges through rhizosphere microbial communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"131 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144097534","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":"Contrasting spatio-temporal variation of fine root dynamics in nearby evergreen korean pine and deciduous oak forests","authors":"Woojin Huh, Minsu Lee, Seohyun Kim, Siyeon Byeon, Tae Kyung Kim, Jeonghyun Hong, Chanoh Park, Gayoung Won, Eunsook Kim, Hyun Seok Kim","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07502-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07502-7","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background and aims</h3><p>Although fine roots play a key role in belowground carbon and nutrient cycling, our understanding of species-specific differences in their phenology, morphology, and turnover remains limited – especially across contrasting tree functional types such as evergreen conifers and deciduous broadleaved species. Improved insight into fine root dynamics is essential for understanding how different forest types shape ecosystem functioning, including potential contributions to soil carbon inputs.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>The dynamics of fine roots (&lt; 2 mm in diameter) were investigated in adjacent evergreen pine (TCK: Taehwa coniferous forest of Korea) and deciduous oak (TBK: Taehwa broadleaf forest of Korea) forests. Minirhizotron images were taken over two years to analyze root production, mortality, turnover, and longevity. Sequential coring was used to assess root biomass and morphological characteristics, along with soil chemical properties across depths (0-30 cm).</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Although TCK roots had larger diameters compared to TBK, TCK unexpectedly exhibited higher turnover rates. Additionally, TCK exhibited a bimodal phenological pattern while TBK exhibited a unimodal pattern. TBK had higher specific root length and faster turnover, as well as more carbon at 0-10 cm soil depths. In contrast, TCK had more uniform root and soil carbon distributions across depths.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>Our findings reveal clear species-specific differences in fine root phenology, morphology, and turnover between adjacent evergreen and deciduous forests. These differences likely reflect distinct belowground strategies for resource acquisition and may influence the timing and magnitude of root-derived carbon inputs to soil. Understanding such variation is critical for improving forest ecosystem models and guiding adaptive management.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"55 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144088295","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":"Three years of elevated [CO2] reduce cadmium bioavailability in contaminated paddy soils by modifying dissolved organic matter","authors":"Hongyan Yu, Xulei Geng, Shiqi Guo, Xilin Liu, Minghui Zhou, Quanmin Zhou, Yue Teng","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07516-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07516-1","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background and aim</h3><p>Elevated atmospheric CO (eCO ) and cadmium (Cd) contamination collectively threaten rice safety and soil ecosystem stability. Soil dissolved organic matter (DOM), a critical mediator of biogeochemical processes, regulates heavy metal mobility and bioavailability, yet the interplay between eCO and Cd pollution on DOM dynamics remains unclear, particularly regarding its implications for Cd bioavailability under future climate scenarios.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We employed a series of characterization techniques, along with Pearson correlation analysis, to explore the impact of eCO on the content and structure of DOM in Cd-contaminated paddy soil, as well as the correlation between the molecular composition of DOM and the bioavailability of Cd.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>The research findings show that eCO increased the concentration of DOC by 25.58% and 7.04% in low and high Cdcontaminated paddy soil, respectively. In addition, eCO increased the aromaticity, hydrophobicity, and humicity of DOM in low Cd-contaminated paddy soils by about 3.84%, 5.07%, and 5.12%, respectively. Exposure to eCO resulted in a 2.56% decrease in C1cotent, an 18.30% increase in C2 content and complicated DOM structure. In high Cd-contaminated soils, the structure of DOM becomesbecame relatively simpler. Correlation analysis further revealed that the increased complexity of DOM could reduce the bioavailability of Cd.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>Three years of eCO reduced cadmium bioavailability in contaminated paddy soils by modifying dissolved organic matter. This will contribute to a better understanding of rice Cd uptake under future climate conditions, thus promoting the development of climate-crop-soil models and the accurate prediction of food security.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144088325","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":"Fencing-driven soil seed bank alterations: reduced precipitation sensitivity and hints of management-induced retrogressive succession in alpine grasslands","authors":"Xiangtao Wang, Wencheng Li, Ningning Zhao, Xin Pu, Lingfan Wan, Puchang Wang","doi":"10.1007/s11104-025-07507-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07507-2","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background and aims</h3><p>The degradation of the alpine grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has been mitigated in some regions, while it persists to varying degrees in others. Soil seed banks (SSBs), reflecting the past, present, and future potential of plant communities, are critical for restoration. This study assessed fencing, a nature-based solution, addressing regional biases and limited cross-regional synthesis in prior research.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>Paired plots of free grazing and fenced grazing were established through field sampling. Community and SSB characteristics were compared between fenced and grazed areas using vegetation and seed bank surveys, seed germination experiments, and statistical analyses. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to identify regulatory pathways influencing seed density under both management regimes.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Fencing increased seed density (346–20,961 seeds/m²) compared to grazed areas (346–14,378 seeds/m², <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). The Sørensen similarity index indicated altered community structure and retrogressive succession (fenced: 0.803; grazed: 0.766). Fencing raised the importance value (IV) of Poaceae by 8.70% but reduced non-grass species richness and IV by 8.13%. SEM explained 95.04% (fenced) and 97.30% (grazed) of seed density variation, with fencing weakening seed density response to precipitation.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>Fencing significantly affects SSBs by altering seed density, community structure, composition, and diversity. These changes reduce the sensitivity of SSBs to precipitation and may contribute to retrogressive succession in alpine grasslands. This study provides theoretical support for utilizing SSBs as a target for nature based solution to restore degraded alpine grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144088323","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}