Cenchrus spinifex Invasion Alters Soil Nitrogen Dynamics and Competition

• Published in: Microorganisms (Basel) 2024-10, Vol.12 (11), p.2120
• Main Authors: Meng, Meng, Ren, Baihui, Yu, Jianxin, Li, Daiyan, Li, Haoyan, Li, Jiahuan, Yang, Jiyun, Bai, Long, Feng, Yulong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ammonia; Bacteria; Cenchrus spinifex; Community involvement; Competition; Competitiveness; Ecosystems; Flowers & plants; Genetic transformation; Indigenous plants; Influence; interspecific competition; Invasive plants; Microbial activity; Microorganisms; Native species; Nitrates; Nitrogen; nitrogen addition; Nitrogen cycle; nitrogen-cycling microbial communities; Nonnative species; Nutrient content; Plant growth; plant invasion; Plant layout; Soil conditions; Soil dynamics; Soil investigations; Soil microbiology; Soil microorganisms; soil nitrogen conversion rate
• ISSN: 2076-2607; 2076-2607
• DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12112120

Invasive plants often alter biological soil conditions to increase their own competitiveness. Through indoor simulated nitrogen deposition culture experiments, we investigated the differences in growth indicators and nutrient content levels between the invasive plant Cav. and the native symbiotic plant (L.) Gaertn. under diverse nitrogen application modes and planting-competition ratios. Furthermore, we examined the alterations in key microbial communities involved in soil nitrogen cycling of . The results indicated that the invasion of could inhibit the growth of native plants, and in fact altered the accumulation and transformation processes related to soil nitrogen, resulting in reduced rates of soil nitrogen transformation. The overarching aim of this research was to construct a theoretical foundation for the scientific comprehension of the invasion mechanisms of , in order to better prevent the further spread of this invasive plant and mitigate its pernicious impact on the current environment.