Responses of root exudation and nutrient cycling to grazing intensities and recovery practices in an alpine meadow: An implication for pasture management

• Published in: Plant and soil 2017-07, Vol.416 (1/2), p.515-525
• Main Authors: Sun, Geng, Zhu-Barker, Xia, Chen, Dongming, Liu, Lin, Zhang, Nannan, Shi, Changguang, He, Liping, Lei, Yanbao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological activity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cycles; Dominant species; Ecology; Ecosystem recovery; Enzymatic activity; Exudation; Feedback; Field tests; Glucosidase; Grasslands; Grazing; Grazing intensity; Life Sciences; Meadows; Microbial activity; Microorganisms; Mineralization; N-Acetylglucosaminidase; Nitrogen; Nutrient cycles; Nutrient uptake; Pasture; Pasture management; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plants (botany); Priming; Recovery; Regular Article; Rhizosphere; Soil fertility; Soil research; Soil Science & Conservation; Soils; Sustainable use; Vegetation
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-017-3236-7

Background and aims The rhizosphere priming effect is caused by root carbon (C) exudation into the rhizosphere; the role of this effect in nutrient cycling and ecosystem recovery of natural grasslands as affected by different grazing intensities is still unknown. The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationships among root C exudation, rhizospheric microbial activity, and their influences on plant nutrient uptake during grazing and recovery periods. Methods Field experiments were conducted in the Hongyuan Alpine Meadow to measure root exudation rate and nutrient cycling processes of the dominant species Elymus nutans. Three grazing intensities (an ungrazed control, moderate grazing and heavy grazing) were introduced for two months, following which all treatments received a recovery practice (no grazing for 21 days). Results Heavy grazing significantly decreased root exudation rate, soil nitrogen (N) mineralization rate, β-1,4-glucosidase (BG) activity, and foliar C concentration, while moderate grazing had no influence on these parameters compared to the control. After the 21 days of recovery, all these parameters, except N mineralization rate and foliar C concentrations in the heavy grazing treatment, returned to similar levels as in the control, whereas root exudation rate and BG activity rose to even higher levels. Meanwhile, moderate grazing significantly promoted root exudation rate, soil inorganic N concentration, net soil N mineralization rate, and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) activity during the recovery stage as compared to the control. Foliar quality was also improved by the recovery practice, indicating that the high availability of N and P is a consequence of the positive root–microbe feedback and will ultimately benefit grazers. Conclusions The flush of labile C released to the rhizosphere by grazed plants stimulated extracellular enzyme activities, enhanced soil N mineralization, and increased plant nutrient uptake. These results imply that reasonable (i.e. moderate) grazing followed by a recovery practice can effectively restore and strengthen grassland vegetation, and contribute to the sustainable use of alpine meadows such as Hongyuan.