Does wood mulch trigger microbially mediated positive plant-soil feedback in degraded boreal forest sites? A post hoc study
IntroductionReforestation of degraded lands in the boreal forest is challenging and depends on the direction and strength of the plant-soil feedback (PSF).MethodsUsing a gradient in tree productivity (null, low and high) from a long-term, spatially replicated reforestation experiment of borrow pits...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1122445/full |
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| author | Franck Stefani Julien Beguin David Paré Marie-Josée Morency Christine Martineau J. André Fortin Nelson Thiffault Armand Séguin |
| author_facet | Franck Stefani Julien Beguin David Paré Marie-Josée Morency Christine Martineau J. André Fortin Nelson Thiffault Armand Séguin |
| author_sort | Franck Stefani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionReforestation of degraded lands in the boreal forest is challenging and depends on the direction and strength of the plant-soil feedback (PSF).MethodsUsing a gradient in tree productivity (null, low and high) from a long-term, spatially replicated reforestation experiment of borrow pits in the boreal forest, we investigated the interplay between microbial communities and soil and tree nutrient stocks and concentrations in relation to a positive PSF induced by wood mulch amendment.ResultsThree levels of mulch amendment underlie the observed gradient in tree productivity, and plots that had been amended with a continuous layer of mulch 17 years earlier showed a positive PSF with trees up to 6 m tall, a closed canopy, and a developing humus layer. The average taxonomic and functional composition of the bacterial and fungal communities differed markedly betweenlow- and high-productivity plots. Trees in high-productivity plots recruited a specialized soil microbiome that was more efficient at nutrient mobilization and acquisition. These plots showed increases in carbon (C), calcium (Ca), nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P) stocks and as well as bacterial and fungal biomass. The soil microbiome was dominated by taxa from the fungal genus Cortinarius and the bacterial family Chitinophagaceae, and a complex microbial network with higher connectivity and more keystone species supported tree productivity in reforested plots compared to unproductive plots.DiscussionTherefore, mulching of plots resulted in a microbially mediated PSF that enhances mineral weathering and non-symbiotic N fixation, and in turn helps transform unproductive plots into productive plots to ensure rapid restoration of the forest ecosystem in a harsh boreal environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T14:32:24Z |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T14:32:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-37de93dfda4a4102b139aa23fc5bde5d2023-05-03T15:21:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2023-05-011410.3389/fpls.2023.11224451122445Does wood mulch trigger microbially mediated positive plant-soil feedback in degraded boreal forest sites? A post hoc studyFranck Stefani0Julien Beguin1David Paré2Marie-Josée Morency3Christine Martineau4J. André Fortin5Nelson Thiffault6Armand Séguin7Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Ottawa, ON, CanadaInstitut de recherche sur les forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, CanadaNatural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Québec, QC, CanadaNatural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Québec, QC, CanadaNatural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Québec, QC, CanadaUniversité Laval, Faculté de foresterie, de géographie et de géomatique, Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt, Québec, QC, CanadaNatural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Canadian Wood Fibre Centre, Québec, QC, CanadaNatural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Québec, QC, CanadaIntroductionReforestation of degraded lands in the boreal forest is challenging and depends on the direction and strength of the plant-soil feedback (PSF).MethodsUsing a gradient in tree productivity (null, low and high) from a long-term, spatially replicated reforestation experiment of borrow pits in the boreal forest, we investigated the interplay between microbial communities and soil and tree nutrient stocks and concentrations in relation to a positive PSF induced by wood mulch amendment.ResultsThree levels of mulch amendment underlie the observed gradient in tree productivity, and plots that had been amended with a continuous layer of mulch 17 years earlier showed a positive PSF with trees up to 6 m tall, a closed canopy, and a developing humus layer. The average taxonomic and functional composition of the bacterial and fungal communities differed markedly betweenlow- and high-productivity plots. Trees in high-productivity plots recruited a specialized soil microbiome that was more efficient at nutrient mobilization and acquisition. These plots showed increases in carbon (C), calcium (Ca), nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P) stocks and as well as bacterial and fungal biomass. The soil microbiome was dominated by taxa from the fungal genus Cortinarius and the bacterial family Chitinophagaceae, and a complex microbial network with higher connectivity and more keystone species supported tree productivity in reforested plots compared to unproductive plots.DiscussionTherefore, mulching of plots resulted in a microbially mediated PSF that enhances mineral weathering and non-symbiotic N fixation, and in turn helps transform unproductive plots into productive plots to ensure rapid restoration of the forest ecosystem in a harsh boreal environment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1122445/fullbacteriabelowground microbiomefungiplant-soil feedback (PSF)productivityramial chipped wood (RCW) |
| spellingShingle | Franck Stefani Julien Beguin David Paré Marie-Josée Morency Christine Martineau J. André Fortin Nelson Thiffault Armand Séguin Does wood mulch trigger microbially mediated positive plant-soil feedback in degraded boreal forest sites? A post hoc study Frontiers in Plant Science bacteria belowground microbiome fungi plant-soil feedback (PSF) productivity ramial chipped wood (RCW) |
| title | Does wood mulch trigger microbially mediated positive plant-soil feedback in degraded boreal forest sites? A post hoc study |
| title_full | Does wood mulch trigger microbially mediated positive plant-soil feedback in degraded boreal forest sites? A post hoc study |
| title_fullStr | Does wood mulch trigger microbially mediated positive plant-soil feedback in degraded boreal forest sites? A post hoc study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does wood mulch trigger microbially mediated positive plant-soil feedback in degraded boreal forest sites? A post hoc study |
| title_short | Does wood mulch trigger microbially mediated positive plant-soil feedback in degraded boreal forest sites? A post hoc study |
| title_sort | does wood mulch trigger microbially mediated positive plant soil feedback in degraded boreal forest sites a post hoc study |
| topic | bacteria belowground microbiome fungi plant-soil feedback (PSF) productivity ramial chipped wood (RCW) |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1122445/full |
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