Different sex combinations of Populus cathayana affect soil respiration and tea litter decomposition by influencing plant growth and soil functional microbial diversity

• Published in: Plant and soil 2023-09, Vol.490 (1-2), p.631-650
• Main Authors: Zveushe, Obey Kudakwashe, Sajid, Sumbal, Dong, Faqin, Han, Ying, Zeng, Fang, Geng, Yuhong, Shen, Songrong, Xiang, Yuanling, Kang, Qianlin, Zhang, Yazhen, Huang, Miao, Nabi, Farhan, de Dios, Víctor Resco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abundance; Agriculture; Biogeochemical cycles; Biogeochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Decomposition; Diameters; Ecology; Ecophysiology; Females; Life Sciences; Litter; Microorganisms; Multivariate statistical analysis; Nutrient status; Organic matter; Organic soils; Photosynthesis; Plant growth; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plants (botany); Populus cathayana; Research Article; Resource allocation; Respiration; Rhizosphere; Sex; Soil nutrients; Soil organic matter; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil structure; Soils
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-023-06107-2

Background and aims Dioecy may subject females and males to contrasting selective pressures, leading to differences in adaptive traits associated with resource allocation and ecophysiology across sex. Such differences may then exert carry-over effects on the surrounding ecosystem. However, effect of different sex combinations over ecosystem biogeochemical cycles, via organic matter decomposition, has not yet been addressed. Here, we used different combinations of female and male Populus cathayana to elucidate the carry-over effects of dioecy on organic matter decomposition. Methods 900 saplings were grown in field plots in either single-sex or mixed-sex treatments. Soil organic matter decomposition rates were estimated using the teabag index, and measurements of soil microbial respiration in vitro, and characterization of the rhizosphere microbial community, were done. Results Different sex combinations variedly influenced plant growth, assimilation rates, and soil processes under field conditions. showed highest shoot length, stem diameter, photosynthetic rates, soil microbial respiration rates, litter decomposition rate, the extent of litter stabilization, and soil microbial structure were highest under the FM treatment. Bacterial abundance and diversity were highest in FF plots, while the highest abundance and diversity of classified fungi occurred in MM plots. Our piecewise structural equation model analysis results further confirmed that sex was a significant driver of photosynthesis, shoot dry weight, specific root length, microbe abundance and diversity, soil nutrient status, soil respiration, and organic matter decomposition. Conclusion Our results indicate that sex plays a significant role in soil biogeochemical processes and provides novel insights relevant to dioecious plantations and biogeochemical modeling. Graphical abstract