Mechanisms of Nitrogen Transfer in a Model Clover-ryegrass Pasture: a N-tracer Approach

Overview

Journal Plant Soil

Date 2022 Dec 5

PMID 36466744

Authors

Michaela K Reay

Katrina A Pears

Alison Kuhl

Richard P Evershed

Phillip J Murray

Laura M Cardenas

Jennifer A J Dungait

Ian D Bull

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: Nitrogen (N) transfer from white clover ( cv.) to ryegrass ( cv.) has the potential to meet ryegrass N requirements. This study aimed to quantify N transfer in a mixed pasture and investigate the influence of the microbial community and land management on N transfer.

Methods: Split root N-labelling of clover quantified N transfer to ryegrass via exudation, microbial assimilation, decomposition, defoliation and soil biota. Incorporation into the microbial protein pool was determined using compound-specific N-stable isotope probing approaches.

Results: N transfer to ryegrass and soil microbial protein in the model system was relatively small, with one-third arising from root exudation. N transfer to ryegrass increased with no microbial competition but soil microbes also increased N transfer via shoot decomposition. Addition of mycorrhizal fungi did not alter N transfer, due to the source-sink nature of this pathway, whilst weevil grazing on roots decreased microbial N transfer. N transfer was bidirectional, and comparable on a short-term scale.

Conclusions: N transfer was low in a model young pasture established from soil from a permanent grassland with long-term N fertilisation. Root exudation and decomposition were major N transfer pathways. N transfer was influenced by soil biota (weevils, mycorrhizae) and land management (e.g. grazing). Previous land management and the role of the microbial community in N transfer must be considered when determining the potential for N transfer to ryegrass.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11104-022-05585-0.

Citing Articles

Interplant carbon and nitrogen transfers mediated by common arbuscular mycorrhizal networks: beneficial pathways for system functionality.

Luo X, Liu Y, Li S, He X Front Plant Sci. 2023; 14:1169310.

PMID: 37502701 PMC: 10369077. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1169310.

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