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Inhibitory effects of Plantago lanceolata L. on soil N mineralization

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Abstract

Background and aims

Nitrate leaching from intensively cropped soils represents a huge environmental problem. In order to diversify the range of nitrogen management strategies, this investigation is focused on the effects of ribwort plantain, Plantago lanceolata L., and its allelochemicals on soil N mineralization.

Methods

High-performance liquid chromatography was used in this study for phytochemical analysis of the major allelochemicals aucubin, catalpol, and verbascoside. Soil incubation experiments demonstrated a significant suppression of soil N mineralization caused by the incorporation of the iridoid glycoside (IG) aucubin, leaf material of two varieties (P. lanceolata cv. Libor and cv. Arterner), and an aqueous extract of P. lanceolata leaves.

Results

Throughout the growing season, the two varieties conspicuously differed in aucubin and verbascoside contents as well as in leaf dry weight. In soil incubation experiments, incorporated leaf material of both varieties affected long-term low soil nitrate concentrations. Experimental aucubin application resulted in an inhibitory effect on soil N mineralization. This was not true for the IG catalpol. Furthermore, we observed a negative relationship between IG concentrations and inorganic soil nitrogen concentrations when the soil was incubated with aqueous P. lanceolata leaf extract of different concentrations.

Conclusion

This study enforced the hypothesis that allelochemicals of P. lanceolata have an active role in a suppression effect on soil N mineralization. Further research may be necessary to investigate the specific effects of P. lanceolata allelochemicals on the nitrogen cycle.

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Abbreviations

AMO:

Ammonia monooxygenase

BNI:

Biological nitrification inhibition

DM:

Dry mass

DW:

Dry weight

FW:

Fresh weight

Glu:

Glycosyl

HPLC:

High-performance liquid chromatography

IC:

Initial concentration

IG:

Iridoid glycoside

NIS:

Nitrification-inhibiting substances

PBG:

Phenyl-β-d-glucose

RPE:

Ribwort plantain extract

WHC:

Water-holding capacity

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Acknowledgments

We thank E. Brunner for the pleasant cooperation. Furthermore, we acknowledge all analysts from BFUL Leipzig. Special thanks go to S. Unsicker, J. Gaugler, D. Bechtel, M. Krause, and C.v. Verschuer for the support of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fakultät Landbau/Landespflege, Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Dresden, Pillnitzer Platz 2, D-01326, Dresden, Germany

    Marko Dietz & Knut Schmidtke

  2. Bioanalytische Chemie, Fachrichtung Chemie und Lebensmittelchemie, Fakultät Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften, Technische Universität Dresden, Bergstraße 66, D-01069, Dresden, Germany

    Susanne Machill & Herbert C. Hoffmann

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  1. Marko Dietz
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  2. Susanne Machill
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Correspondence to Marko Dietz.

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Dietz, M., Machill, S., Hoffmann, H.C. et al. Inhibitory effects of Plantago lanceolata L. on soil N mineralization. Plant Soil 368, 445–458 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1524-9

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