Labile and recalcitrant plant fractions are utilised by distinct microbial communities in soil: Independent of the presence of roots and mycorrhizal fungi

• Published in: Soil biology & biochemistry Vol. 40; no. 5; pp. 1103 - 1113
• Main Authors: Paterson, Eric, Osler, Graham, Dawson, Lorna A., Gebbing, Thomas, Sim, Allan, Ord, Brian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2008; New York, NY Elsevier Science
• Subjects: 13C labelling; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biochemistry and biology; Biological and medical sciences; biomarkers; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; Decomposition pathways; Economic plant physiology; Enchytraeidae; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; fungi; isotope labeling; microbial activity; Microbiology; mineralization; mycorrhizal fungi; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; plant litter; Rhizodeposition; roots; soil bacteria; soil fauna; Soil microbial diversity; soil microorganisms; soil organic matter; Soil respiration; Soil science; solubility; species diversity; stable isotopes; Symbiosis (nodules, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, mycorrhiza...); temporal variation; 13C labelling; Soil microbial diversity; Soil respiration; Rhizodeposition; Decomposition pathways; Microbial activity; Rhizodeposit; Isotope labelling; Root; Decomposition; Biodiversity; Symbiont; Soils; C-13; Mycorrhiza; Instability; Soil science; Respiration; Microbial community

Plant inputs of organic material to soil are thought to be key determinants of microbial activity, community composition and processes. However, the identity of organisms utilising these chemically diverse inputs is not well understood. In this study, we applied tracer amounts of highly enriched, 13...