Abstract
The flow of carbon from plant roots through the microbial biomass is one of the key processes in terrestrial ecosystems. Roots release considerable amounts of organic materials which are utilized by microbes as substrate for biosynthesis and energy supply. The fate of photosynthates and other organic material in the soil-root environment under different conditions was studied using14C-tracers. Soil structure and texture had a large effect on the turnover of the14C-labelled materials through the microbial biomas. Finer, clayey soils tended to be more ‘preservative’ than coarser, sandy soils,i.e., larger amounts of14C were incorporated in microbial biomass and soil organic matter fractions in clayey soils than in sandy soils.
The soil nutrient status also appeared to affect organic matter turnover. At limiting plant-nutrient concentrations the utilization of14C-labelled photosynthates seem to be hampered. Plant roots influenced the transformation of glucose and crop residues and the effect was attributed to plant-induced changes in mineral nutrient status. The mechanisms of this process and the consequences are discussed.
A number of areas for future research are identified, including the potentials for manipulating rhizodeposition.
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Van Veen, J.A., Merckx, R. & Van De Geijn, S.C. Plant- and soil related controls of the flow of carbon from roots through the soil microbial biomass. Plant Soil 115, 179–188 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02202586
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02202586