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Distribution and fate of 13C-labeled root and straw residues from ryegrass and crimson clover in soil under western Oregon field conditions

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Abstract

Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) were pulse-labeled with 13C-CO2 in the field between the initiation of late winter growth (mid-February) and through flowering and seed formation (late May). Straw was harvested after seed maturation (July), and soil containing 13C-labeled roots and root-derived C was left in the field until September. 13C-enriched and 13C-unenriched straw residues of each species were mixed in factorial combinations with soil containing either 13C-enriched or 13C-unenriched root-derived C and incubated in the field for 10 months. The contributions of C derived from straw, roots, and soil were measured in soil microbial biomass C, respired C, and soil C on five occasions after residue incorporation (September, October, November, April, and June). At straw incorporation (September), 25–30% of soil microbial biomass C was derived from root C in both ryegrass and clover treatments, and this value was sustained in the ryegrass treatment from September to April but declined in the clover treatment. By October, between 20 and 30% of soil microbial biomass C was derived from straw, with the percentage contribution from clover straw generally exceeding that from ryegrass straw throughout the incubation. By June, ryegrass root-derived C contributed 5.5% of the soil C pool, which was significantly greater than the contributions from any of the three other residue types (about 1.5%). This work has provided a framework for more studies of finer scale that should focus on the interactions between residue quality, soil organic matter C, and specific members of the soil microbial community.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciated the field and laboratory support provided by Daryl Ehrensing, Rockie Yarwood, Shawna McMahon, Stacie Kageyama, Justin Brant, Matt Pohl, and Stephanie Boyle. Dr. Yarwood was particularly supportive during the isotope analysis stages of the experiment. This research was supported by the National Science Foundation under grant no. 0075777 and by the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, 3121 Miller Plant Sciences, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    Mark A. Williams

  2. Department of Crop and Soil Science, Oregon State University, Agriculture and Life Sciences Building 3017, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    David D. Myrold & Peter J. Bottomley

  3. Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, 220 Nash Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Peter J. Bottomley

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  1. Mark A. Williams
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  2. David D. Myrold
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Correspondence to Mark A. Williams.

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Williams, M.A., Myrold, D.D. & Bottomley, P.J. Distribution and fate of 13C-labeled root and straw residues from ryegrass and crimson clover in soil under western Oregon field conditions. Biol Fertil Soils 42, 523–531 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-005-0046-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-005-0046-5

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