Premium
Is nitrogen transfer among plants enhanced by contrasting nutrient‐acquisition strategies?
Author(s) -
TESTE FRANÇOIS P.,
VENEKLAAS ERIK J.,
DIXON KINGSLEY W.,
LAMBERS HANS
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/pce.12367
Subject(s) - nutrient , microcosm , nitrogen fixation , biology , nitrogen , soil water , agronomy , botany , plant nutrition , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry
Nitrogen ( N ) transfer among plants has been found where at least one plant can fix N 2 . In nutrient‐poor soils, where plants with contrasting nutrient‐acquisition strategies (without N 2 fixation) co‐occur, it is unclear if N transfer exists and what promotes it. A novel multi‐species microcosm pot experiment was conducted to quantify N transfer between arbuscular mycorrhizal ( AM ), ectomycorrhizal ( EM ), dual AM / EM , and non‐mycorrhizal cluster‐rooted plants in nutrient‐poor soils with mycorrhizal mesh barriers. We foliar‐fed plants with a K 15 NO 3 solution to quantify one‐way N transfer from ‘donor’ to ‘receiver’ plants. We also quantified mycorrhizal colonization and root intermingling. Transfer of N between plants with contrasting nutrient‐acquisition strategies occurred at both low and high soil nutrient levels with or without root intermingling. The magnitude of N transfer was relatively high (representing 4% of donor plant N ) given the lack of N 2 fixation. Receiver plants forming ectomycorrhizas or cluster roots were more enriched compared with AM ‐only plants. We demonstrate N transfer between plants of contrasting nutrient‐acquisition strategies, and a preferential enrichment of cluster‐rooted and EM plants compared with AM plants. Nutrient exchanges among plants are potentially important in promoting plant coexistence in nutrient‐poor soils.