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Meta-analysis shows positive effects of plant diversity on microbial biomass and respiration

Author

Listed:
  • Chen Chen

    (Lakehead University)

  • Han Y. H. Chen

    (Lakehead University
    Fujian Normal University)

  • Xinli Chen

    (Lakehead University)

  • Zhiqun Huang

    (Fujian Normal University
    Fujian Normal University)

Abstract

Soil microorganisms are key to biological diversity and many ecosystem processes in terrestrial ecosystems. Despite the current alarming loss of plant diversity, it is unclear how plant species diversity affects soil microorganisms. By conducting a global meta-analysis with paired observations of plant mixtures and monocultures from 106 studies, we show that microbial biomass, bacterial biomass, fungal biomass, fungi:bacteria ratio, and microbial respiration increase, while Gram-positive to Gram-negative bacteria ratio decrease in response to plant mixtures. The increases in microbial biomass and respiration are more pronounced in older and more diverse mixtures. The effects of plant mixtures on all microbial attributes are consistent across ecosystem types including natural forests, planted forests, planted grasslands, croplands, and planted containers. Our study underlines strong relationships between plant diversity and soil microorganisms across global terrestrial ecosystems and suggests the importance of plant diversity in maintaining belowground ecosystem functioning.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen Chen & Han Y. H. Chen & Xinli Chen & Zhiqun Huang, 2019. "Meta-analysis shows positive effects of plant diversity on microbial biomass and respiration," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-09258-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09258-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhongmin Dai & Xu Guo & Jiahui Lin & Xiu Wang & Dan He & Rujiong Zeng & Jun Meng & Jipeng Luo & Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo & Eduardo Moreno-Jiménez & Philip C. Brookes & Jianming Xu, 2023. "Metallic micronutrients are associated with the structure and function of the soil microbiome," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Wojciech Bierza & Gabriela Woźniak & Agnieszka Kompała-Bąba & Franco Magurno & Monika Malicka & Damian Chmura & Agnieszka Błońska & Andrzej M. Jagodziński & Zofia Piotrowska-Seget, 2023. "The Effect of Plant Diversity and Soil Properties on Soil Microbial Biomass and Activity in a Novel Ecosystem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Priscila S. Matos & Steven J. Fonte & Sandra S. Lima & Marcos G. Pereira & Courtland Kelly & Júnior M. Damian & Marcelo A. Fontes & Guilherme M. Chaer & Felipe C. Brasil & Everaldo Zonta, 2020. "Linkages among Soil Properties and Litter Quality in Agroforestry Systems of Southeastern Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-22, November.
    4. Alexander Esaulko & Vladimir Sitnikov & Elena Pismennaya & Olga Vlasova & Evgeniy Golosnoi & Alena Ozheredova & Anna Ivolga & Vasilii Erokhin, 2022. "Productivity of Winter Wheat Cultivated by Direct Seeding: Measuring the Effect of Hydrothermal Coefficient in the Arid Zone of Central Fore-Caucasus," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Denise M. Finney & Samantha Garritano & Matthew Kenwood, 2021. "Forage Species Identity Shapes Soil Biota in a Temperate Agroecosystem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, May.

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