Changes in root-exudate-induced respiration reveal a novel mechanism through which drought affects ecosystem carbon cycling

• Published in: The New phytologist Vol. 224; no. 1; pp. 132 - 145
• Main Authors: de Vries, Franciska T., Williams, Alex, Stringer, Fiona, Willcocks, Robert, McEwing, Rosie, Langridge, Holly, Straathof, Angela L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley 01.10.2019; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Biological activity; Biomass; carbon; Carbon - metabolism; Carbon Cycle; Cell Respiration; Climate change; Drought; Droughts; Ecosystem; Ecosystems; Exudates; Exudation; forbs; grasses; Grasslands; Holcus - microbiology; Holcus - physiology; Holcus lanatus; Microbial activity; Microorganisms; Nitrogen - metabolism; Organic Chemicals - metabolism; Plant Exudates - metabolism; Plant Roots - cytology; Plant Roots - physiology; Plant Shoots - physiology; plant–soil interactions; Regrowth; Respiration; root exudate; root exudates; root systems; root traits; Roots; Rumex - microbiology; Rumex - physiology; Rumex acetosa; Soil; soil bacteria; soil fungi; Soil Microbiology; soil respiration; Soil treatment; Soils; Species Specificity; root traits; plant-soil interactions; drought; soil fungi; carbon; root exudate; soil bacteria; climate change

Root exudates play an important role in ecosystem response to climate change, but the functional consequences of drought-induced changes in the quality of root exudates are unknown. Here, we addressed this knowledge gap in a unique experimental approach. We subjected two common grassland species tha...