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Effects of tree-root exudates on the solubilization of phosphorus adsorbed to non-crystalline minerals in the rhizosphere volcanic soils on Yakushima Island, Japan

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Abstract

Key message

The roles of root exudates are not to directly solubilize P bound to non-crystalline minerals but to increase organic-P and plant-available P through priming effects for microbes on volcanic soils.

Abstract

Volcanic soils are generally characterized by low phosphorus (P) availability for plants because the non-crystalline minerals produced during weathering process strongly combine P with ligand binding. How forest trees absorb such bound P in volcanic soils have not been well known. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of P acquisition by trees in three evergreen broadleaved forests on volcanic soils differing in the concentration of non-crystalline minerals with an emphasis on the role of low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs). LMWOAs released from tree fine roots were expected (1) to chemically release P bound to non-crystalline minerals, and/or (2) to biologically enhance P availability through priming effects by stimulating soil microbial activities and by increasing the concentration of organic P in the rhizosphere. Compositions of LMWOA exudates were phylogenetically determined but the flux of citric and malic acids tended to increase in soils where the concentration of non-crystalline minerals was higher. The concentration of P bound to non-crystalline minerals was lower in the rhizosphere than in non-rhizosphere soils, suggesting the solubilization of the bound P in the rhizosphere; however, this trend occurred only in one forest. In contrast, the concentrations of organic P, easily soluble P and total P were significantly greater in the rhizosphere than in non-rhizosphere soils in all sites. Our results suggested that LMWOAs exudates did not directly release P from non-crystalline minerals but increased organic P associated with soil microbial biomass in rhizosphere soils, which in turn enhanced plant-available P and total P.

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The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We thank to Dr. Lijuan Sun for teaching the method of collecting root exudates. This study was supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI grant number 2325503 to SA, 17H01858 to KK, and 18J14792 to MM.

Funding

This study was supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI Grant number 2325503 to SA, 17H01858 to KK 18J14792 to MM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu, 400-8510, Japan

    Mana Mukai

  2. Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-oiwake, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    Mana Mukai & Kanehiro Kitayama

  3. Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan

    Shin-ichiro Aiba

  4. Faculty of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, N10W5, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan

    Shin-ichiro Aiba

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  1. Mana Mukai
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Correspondence to Mana Mukai.

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Mukai, M., Aiba, Si. & Kitayama, K. Effects of tree-root exudates on the solubilization of phosphorus adsorbed to non-crystalline minerals in the rhizosphere volcanic soils on Yakushima Island, Japan. Trees 35, 2031–2041 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-021-02170-3

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