Rhizodeposition: Its contribution to microbial growth and carbon and nitrogen turnover within the rhizosphere

• Published in: Journal of plant nutrition and soil science 2012-10, Vol.175 (5), p.750-760
• Main Authors: Schenck zu Schweinsberg-Mickan, Mario, Jörgensen, Rainer Georg, Müller, Torsten
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biochemistry and biology; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Organic matter; organic soils; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; plant-soil relationship; rhizosphere; soil biology; soil organic matter; Soil science; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments
• ISSN: 1436-8730; 1522-2624
• DOI: 10.1002/jpln.201100300

A greenhouse rhizobox experiment was carried out to investigate the fate and turnover of 13C‐ and 15N‐labeled rhizodeposits within a rhizosphere gradient from 0–8 mm distance to the roots of wheat. Rhizosphere soil layers from 0–1, 1–2, 2–3, 3–4, 4–6, and 6–8 mm distance to separated roots were investigated in an incubation experiment (42 d, 15°C) for changes in total C and N and that derived from rhizodeposition in total soil, in soil microbial biomass, and in the 0.05 M K2SO4–extractable soil fraction. CO2‐C respiration in total and that derived from rhizodeposition were measured from the incubated rhizosphere soil samples. Rhizodeposition C was detected in rhizosphere soil up to 4–6 mm distance from the separated roots. Rhizodeposition N was only detected in the rhizosphere soils up to 3–4 mm distance from the roots. Microbial biomass C and N was increased with increasing proximity to the separated roots. Beside 13C and 15N derived from rhizodeposits, unlabeled soil C and N (native SOM) were incorporated into the growing microbial biomass towards the roots, indicating a distinct acceleration of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition and N immobilization into the growing microbial biomass, even under the competition of plant growth. During the soil incubation, microbial biomass C and N decreased in all samples. Any decrease in microbial biomass C and N in the incubated rhizosphere soil layers is attributed mainly to a decrease of unlabeled (native) C and N, whereas the main portion of previously incorporated rhizodeposition C and N during the plant growth period remained immobilized in the microbial biomass during the incubation. Mineralization of native SOM C and N was enhanced within the entire investigated rhizosphere gradient. The results indicate complex interactions between substrate input derived from rhizodeposition, microbial growth, and accelerated C and N turnover, including the decomposition of native SOM (i.e., rhizosphere priming effects) at a high spatial resolution from the roots.