Plant–Soil Microbial Interactions Under Contrasting Moisture Conditions: Implications for Plant Fitness and Environmental Adaptation
Keywords:
soil moisture, plant-microbe interactions, soil microbiome, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, root biomassAbstract
The integrated responses of the microbial communities, the soil processes and the root biomass to variable water availability are not sufficiently resolved and plant–soil microbial interactions play a central role in plant performance. The effect of contrasting soil moisture conditions on soil microbial composition, biochemical activity, respiration, nutrient status and below-ground plant performance was investigated. Soil moisture, microbial groups (based on phospholipid fatty acids), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), soil respiration components, enzyme activities, carbon and nitrogen variables and species-specific root biomass were used to analyze 40 experimental plots. Soil moisture, total PLFAs, abundance of bacteria and fungi, some groups of bacteria, AMF, heterotrophic respiration and LC root biomass were significantly influenced by moisture treatments. Generally, bacterial abundance, AMF, heterotrophic respiration and root biomass decreased with lower moisture conditions and fungal dominance increased. The amount of biomass of LC root was correlated positively with soil moisture, bacterial abundance, AMF and inorganic nitrogen, and negatively with fungal abundance and total organic carbon. Other microbial and plant parameters were also affected by nitrogen treatment. Coordinated gradients were suggested by multivariate analysis of the environmental, microbial and plant responses. Overall, the results indicate that moisture availability alters below-ground ecological interactions and affects plant performance because of complex microbial and soil processes.
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