Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of the invasive plant Mikania micrantha H.B.K. on soil nitrogen availability through allelopathy in South China

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biological Invasions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Allelopathy has been regarded as a mechanism for successful exotic plant invasion. However, it is not clear if and what effects of allelopathic substances may exert on soil nutrient. The exotic plant Mikania micrantha H.B.K. (M. micrantha) has invaded many forests in south China, and recent studies have suggested it has allelopathic potential for other plants and soil microbial community. Thus, we hypothesized that M. micrantha could influence soil nutrients and N transformation through allelopathy. We measured total C and N, NO3 −, NH4 + and pH of the soil beneath M. micrantha and the adjacent open soil, and then measured the above soil properties after treating soil with 3 concentrations of aqueous extracts of M. micrantha (T1: 0.005 g ml−1; T2: 0.025 g ml−1; T3: 0.100 g ml−1). In addition, a bioassay was conducted to determine the allelopathic potential of the soil beneath M. micrantha. The results showed that M. micrantha significantly affected soil nutrients and N transformation. Soil beneath M. micrantha had inhibitory effects on seed germination and seedling growth of test plant, and had significantly higher C, N, ammonia, net nitrification rate than those of open soil. The plant extracts decreased soil pH, and T1 decreased it the most, and it increased soil C and N, and T1 represented the greatest increase in both C and N. The extracts also increased both NO3 − and NH4 + in soil, whereas no significant difference existed among the 3 extract treatments. Compared to the water control, the soil net mineralization rate was higher under T1, while lower under T2 and T3. However, the extracts increased the soil nitrification rates under all the treatments (T1, T2 and T3). Our results suggest that the water soluble allelochemicals of M. micrantha improve soil nutrient availability, through which the invasive plant M. micrantha may successfully invade and establish in new habitats.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allison SD, Vitousek PM (2004) Rapid nutrient cycling in leaf litter from invasive plants in Hawai’i. Oecologia 141:612–619. doi:10.1007/s00442-004-1679-z

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bais HP, Vepachedu R, Gilroy S, Callaway RM, Vivanco JM (2003) Allelopathy and exotic plant invasion: from molecules and genes to species interactions. Science 301:1377–1380. doi:10.1126/science.1083245

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Batish DR, Singh HP, Pandher JK, Arora V, Kohli RK (2002) Phytotoxic effect of Parthenium residues on the selected soil properties and growth of chickpea and radish. Weed Biol Manage 2:73–78. doi:10.1046/j.1445-6664.2002.00050.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell BA (2006) Effects of invasive scotch broom on soil properties in a Pacific coastal prairie soil. Appl Soil Ecol 32:149–152. doi:10.1016/j.apsoil.2004.11.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Callaway RM (2002) The detection of neighbors by plants. Trends Ecol Evol 17:104–105. doi:10.1016/S0169-5347(01)02438-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Callaway RM, Aschehoug ET (2000) Invasive plants versus their new and old neighbors: a mechanism for exotic invasion. Science 290:521–523. doi:10.1126/science.290.5491.521

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Callaway RM, Ridenour WM (2004) Novel weapons: invasive success and the evolution of increased competitive ability. Front Ecol Environ 2(8):436–443

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Callaway RM, Thelen GC, Rodriguez A, Holben WE (2004) Soil biota and exotic plant invasion. Nature 427:731–733. doi:10.1038/nature02322

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Callaway RM, Kim J, Mahall BE (2006) Defoliation of Centaurea solstitialis stimulates compensatory growth and intensifies negative effects on neighbors. Biol Invasions 8:1389–1397. doi:10.1007/s10530-006-0003-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen BM, Ni GY, Ren WT, Peng SL (2007) Effects of aqueous extracts of the invasive plant Mikania micrantha on litter decomposition of native plants in South China. Allelopathy J 20(2):307–314

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cronk QCB, Fuller JL (1995) Plant invaders: the threat to natural ecosystems. Chapman and Hall, London, p 241

    Google Scholar 

  • Drenovsky RE, Batten KM (2007) Invasion by Aegilops triuncialis (Barb Goatgrass) slows carbon and nutrient cycling in a serpentine grassland. Biol Invasions 9(2):107–116. doi:10.1007/s10530-006-0007-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrenfeld JG (2003) Effects of exotic plant invasions on soil nutrient cycling processes. Ecosystems (N Y, Print) 6:503–523. doi:10.1007/s10021-002-0151-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrenfeld JG, Kourtev PS, Huang W (2001) Changes in soil functions following invasions of exotic understory plants in deciduous forests. Ecol Appl 11:1287–1300. doi:10.1890/1051-0761(2001)011[1287:CISFFI]2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng HL, Cao HL, Liang XD, Zhou X, Ye WH (2002) The distribution and harmful effect on Mikania micrantha in Guangdong. J Trop Subtrop Bot 10:263–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkes CV, Wren IF, Herman DJ, Firestone MK (2005) Plant invasion alters nitrogen cycling by modifying the soil nitrifying community. Ecol Lett 8:976–985. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00802.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hierro JL, Callaway RM (2003) Allelopathy and exotic plant invasion. Plant Soil 256:29–39. doi:10.1023/A:1026208327014

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hierro JL, Maron JL, Callaway RM (2005) A biogeographical approach to plant invasions: the importance of studying exotics in their introduced and native range. J Ecol 93:5–15. doi:10.1111/j.0022-0477.2004.00953.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ismail BS, Chong TV (2002) Effects of aqueous extracts and decomposition of Mikania micrantha H.B.K. debris on selected agronomic crops. Weed Biol Manage 2:31. doi:10.1046/j.1445-6664.2002.00045.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kourtev PS, Ehrenfeld JG, Häggblom M (2002) Exotic plant species alter the microbial community structure and function in the soil. Ecology 83:3152–3166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kourtev PS, Ehrenfeld JG, Häggblom M (2003) Experimental analysis of the effect of exotic and native plant species on the structure and function of soil microbial communities. Soil Biol Biochem 35:895–905. doi:10.1016/S0038-0717(03)00120-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li WH, Zhang CB, Jiang HB, Xin GR, Yang ZY (2006) Changes in soil microbial community associated with invasion of the exotic weed, Mikania micrantha H.B.K. Plant Soil 281:309–324. doi:10.1007/s11104-005-9641-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mengel K, Kirkby EA (1982) Principles of plant nutrition. International Potash Institute, Worblaufen-Bern, Switzerland, pp 342–343

    Google Scholar 

  • Miki T, Kondoh M (2002) Feedbacks between nutrient cycling and vegetation predict plant species coexistence and invasion. Ecol Lett 5:624–633. doi:10.1046/j.1461-0248.2002.00347.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neill C, Piccolo MC, Cerri CC, Steudler PA, Melillo JM, Brito M (1997) Net nitrogen mineralization and net nitrification rates in soils following deforestation for pasture across the southwestern Brazilian Amazon Basin landscape. Oecologia 110:243–252. doi:10.1007/s004420050157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ni GY, Peng SL (2007) Research advances in the interactions between allelopathy and soil in exotic plant invasions. Ecol Environ 16(2):644–648

    Google Scholar 

  • Ni GY, Song LY, Zhang JL, Peng SL (2006) Effects of root extracts of Mikania micrantha H.B.K. on soil microbial community. Allelopathy J 17:247–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Ni GY, Li FL, Chen BM, Song LY, Peng SL (2007) Allelopathy of invasive plant—Mikania micrantha H.B.K. Allelopathy J 19:287–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Ridenour WM, Callaway RM (2001) The relative importance of allelopathy in interference: the effects of an invasive weed on a native bunchgrass. Oecologia 126:444–450. doi:10.1007/s004420000533

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shao H, Peng SL, Zhang C, Nan P (2003) Allelopathic potential of Mikania micrantha. Chin J Ecol 22:62–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Shao H, Peng SL, Wei XY, Zhang DQ, Zhang C (2005) Potential allelochemicals from an invasive weed Mikania micrantha H.B.K. J Chem Ecol 31:1657–1668. doi:10.1007/s10886-005-5805-0

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thorpe AS, Archer V, DeLuca TH (2006) The invasive forb, Centaurea maculosa, increases phosphorus availability in Montana grasslands. Appl Soil Ecol 32:118–122. doi:10.1016/j.apsoil.2005.02.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vaughn SF, Berhow MA (1999) Allelochemicals isolated from tissues of the invasive weed garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata). J Chem Ecol 25:2495–2504. doi:10.1023/A:1020874124645

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek PM, Walker LR (1989) Biological invasion by Myrica faya in Hawaii-plant demography, nitrogen-fixation, ecosystem effects. Ecol Monogr 59:247–265. doi:10.2307/1942601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek P, Walker L, Whiteaker L, Mueller-Dombois D, Matson P (1987) Biological invasion by Myrica faya alters ecosystem development in Hawaii. Science 238:802–803. doi:10.1126/science.238.4828.802

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang BS, Liao WB, Zan QJ, Li MG, Zhou XY, Gao SH (2003) The spreads of Mikania micrantha in China. Acta Sci Nat Univ Sunyatseni 42:47–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe BE, Klironomos JN (2005) Breaking New Ground: Soil Communities and Exotic Plant Invasion. Bioscience 55:477–487. doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2005)055[0477:BNGSCA]2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu JR, Peng SL (2005) Allelopathy: ‘Novel weapons’ of exotic invasive plants. Acta Ecol Sin 25(11):3093–3097

    Google Scholar 

  • Zan QJ, Wang YJ, Wang BS, Liao WB, Li MG (2000) The distributionan d harm of the exotic weed Mikania micrantha. Chin J Ecol 19:58–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang WY, Wang BS, Liao WB, Li MG, Wang YJ, Zan QJ (2002) Progress in studies on an exotic vicious weed Mikania micrantha. Chin J Appl Ecol 13:1684–1688

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang LY, Ye WH, Cao HL, Feng HL (2004) Mikania micrantha H.B.K. in China—an overview. Weed Res 44:42–49

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Prof. Jiang-Ming Mo and Zhong-Liang Huang for their valuable suggestions and help in the study. We also thank the colleagues of Dinghushan Forest Experimental Station for their help in completing the experiments. The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30670385, U0633002) and the Key Program of Ministry of Education of China (704037).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Science, Sun Yat-Sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, 510275, Guangdong Province, China

    Bao-Ming Chen, Shao-Lin Peng & Guang-Yan Ni

Authors
  1. Bao-Ming Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shao-Lin Peng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Guang-Yan Ni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shao-Lin Peng.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chen, BM., Peng, SL. & Ni, GY. Effects of the invasive plant Mikania micrantha H.B.K. on soil nitrogen availability through allelopathy in South China. Biol Invasions 11, 1291–1299 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9336-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9336-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation