Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Response of biomass accumulation and nodulation by Vicia villosa to soil conditions: Evidence from δ13C and δ15N isotopes

  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Geochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Vicia villosa is an annual legume plant, and is mainly used for green manure by farmers in southwest China. Field growth experiments were performed on six plots. The concentrations of mineral nutrients and soluble sugar, and the changes of carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition within and among organs of Vicia were determined. Significant differences in legume growth were found in response to soil type and its moisture conditions. The Vicia villosa was relatively well adapted to growth in limestone soils than sandstone soils. The distribution of sugar concentrations and δ13C-differences between roots and leaves indicate that the translocation of sugars from leaves to roots may be restricted by soil drought. Therefore, there was an inhibition of Pi distribution from roots to leaves, resulting in over optimum threshold of N/P ratio. Those may originate from the feedback regulation in the legume, where soluble sugar could not be distributed from leaves to roots. The results of δ15N values in tissues suggest that there should be different preferential use of nitrogen resource by legume during the formation of nodules: before nodule formation the legume preferentially utilizes inorganic nitrogen from soils, but afterwards the nitrogen should be mainly from N2-fixation. Our results indicate that the lack of nodulation development, except for S2, should be ascribed to the factor controlling bi-direction nutrient transfer, which should be efficiency of establishment symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhiza before nodulation formation. It is predicted that the species of Vicia villosa should be a legume associated with dual symbiosis with rhizobia and mycorrhiza.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Autunes P.M., de Varennes A., Rajcan I., and Goss M.J. (2006) Accumulation of specific flavonoids in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] as a function of the early tripartite symbiosis with arbuscular mycohhizal fungi and Bradyrhizobium japonicum (Kirchner) Jordan [J]. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 38, 1234–1242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brandes E., Kodama N., Whittaker K., Weston C., Rennenberg H., Keitel C., Adams M., and Gessler A. (2006) Short-term variation in the isotopic composition of organic matter allocated from the leaves to the stem of Pinus sylvestris: effects of photosynthetic and postphotosynthetic carbon isotope fractionation [J]. Global Change Biol. 12, 1922–1939.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brundrett M. (2009) Mycorrhizal associations and other means of nutrition of vascular plants: understanding the global diversity of host plants by resolving conflicting information and developing reliable means of diagnosis [J]. Plant and Soil. 320, 37–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darrah P.R., Nye P.H., and White R.E. (1986) Simultaneous nitrification and diffusion in soil. V. The effect of pH change, following the addition of ammonium sulphate, on the activity of nitrifiers [J]. Soil Sci. 37, 479–484.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drevon J.J. and Hartwig U.A. (1997) Phosphorus deficiency increases the argon-induced decline of nodule nitrogenase activity in soy bean and alfalfa [J]. Planta. 201, 463–469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans R.D., Bloom A.J., Sukrapanna S.S., and Ehleringer J.R. (1996) Nitrogen isotope composition of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. T-5) grown under ammonium or nitrate nutrition [J]. Plant Cell Environ. 19, 1317–1323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan X.H., Tang C., and Rengel Z. (2002) Nitrate uptake, nitrate reductase distribution and their relation to proton relrease in five nodulated grain legumes [J]. Ann. Bot. 90, 315–323.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fredeen A.L., Rao I.M., and Terry N. (1989) Influence of phosphorus nutrition on growth and carbon partitioning in Glycine max [J]. Plant Physiol. 89, 225–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gálvez L, González E.M., and Arrese-Igor C. (2005) Evidence for carbon flux shortage and strong carbon/nitrogen interactions in pea nodules at early stages of water stress [J]. J. Exp. Bot. 56, 2551–2561.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geigenberger P., Reimholz R., Deiting U., Sonnewald U., and Stitt M. (1999) Decreased expression of sucrose phosphate synthase strongly inhibits the water stress-induced synthesis of sucrose in growing potato tubers [J]. Plant J. 19, 119–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh P. and Kashyap A.K. (2003) Effect of rice cultivars on rate of N-mineralization, nitrification and nitrifier population size in an irrigated rice ecosystem [J]. Appl. Soil Ecol. 24, 27–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gigon A. and Rorison I.H. (1972) The response of some ecologically distinct plant species to nitrate- and ammonium-nitrogen [J]. Ecology. 60, 93–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goss M.J. and de Varennes A. (2002) Soil disturbance reduces the efficacy of mycorrhizal associations for early soybean growth and N2 fixation [J]. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 34, 1167–1173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hauter R. and Mengel K. (1988) Measurement of pH at the root surface of red clover (Trifolium pratense) grown in soils differing in proton buffer capacity [J]. Biol. Fertil. Soils. 5, 295–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hobbie E.A. and Werner R.A. (2004) Intramolecular, compound-specific, and bulk carbon isotope patterns in C3 and C4 plants: a review and synthesis [J]. New Phytol. 161, 371–385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Högberg P (1997) 15N natural abundance in soil-plant systems [J]. New Phytol. 137, 179–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Javot H., Pumplin N., and Harrison M.J. (2007) Phosphate in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis: transport properties and regulatory roles [J]. Plant Cell Environ. 30, 310–322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koerselman W. and Meuleman A.F.M. (1996) The vegetation N: P ratio: A new tool to detect the nature of nutrient limitation [J]. Appl. Ecol. 33, 1441–1450.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kouas S., Alkama N., Abdelly C., and Drevon J.J. (2008) Proton release by nodulated roots varies among bean genotypes (Phaseolus vulgaris) under phosphorus deficiency [J]. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 171, 242–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krull E.S. and Skjemstad J.O. (2003) δ13C and δ15N profiles in 14C-dated Oxisol and Vertisols as a function of soil chemistry and mineralogy [J]. Geoderma. 112, 1–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lalonde S., Boles E., Hellmann H., Barker L., Patrick J.W., Frommer W.B., and Ward J.M. (1999) The dual function of sugar carries: Transport and sugar sensing [J]. Plant Cell. 11, 707–726.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leidi E.O. and Rodrĺguez-Navarro D.N. (2000) Nitrogen and phosphorus availability limit N2 fixation in bean [J]. New Phytol. 147, 337–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marschner H. (1995) Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants [M]. Academic Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marschner H., Haussling M., and George E. (1991) Ammonium and nitrate uptake rates and rhizosphere pH in non-mycorrhizal roots of Norwei Spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] [J]. Trees. 5, 14–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mengel K. (1994) Symbiotic dinitrogen fixation—its dependence on plant nutrition and its ecophysiological impact [J]. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 157, 233–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mortimer P.E., Pérez-Fernández M.A., and Valentine A.J. (2008) The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in the carbon and nutrient economy of the tripartite symbiosis with nodulated Phaseolus vulgaris [J]. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 40, 1019–1027.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Munns D.N., Hohenberg J.S., Rhigetti T.L., and Lauter D.J. (1981) Soil acidity tolerance of symbiotic and nitrogen-fertilized soybeans [J]. Agron J. 73, 407–410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons R., Standforth A., Raven J.A., and Sprent J.I. (1993) Nodule growth and activity may be regulated by a feedback mechanism involving phloem nitrogen [J]. Plant Cell Environ. 16, 125–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paul M.J. and Foyer C.H. (2001) Sink regulation of photosynthesis [J]. Exp Bot. 52, 1383–1400.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peuke A.D., Gessler A., and Rennenberg H. (2006) The effect of drought on C and N stable isotopes in different fractions of leaves, stems and roots of sensitive and tolerant beech ecotypes [J]. Plant Cell Environ. 29, 823–835.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piao Hechun, Hong Yetang, and Yuan Zhiyun (2000) Seasonal changes of microbial biomass carbon related to climatic factors in soils from kast areas southwest China [J]. Biol. Fertil. Soils. 30, 294–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piao Hechun and Liu Congqiang (2011) Variations in nitrogen, zinc and sugar concentrations in Chinese fir seedlings grown on shrubland and ploughed soils in response to arbuscular mycorrhizae-mediated process [J]. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 47, 721–727.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piao Hechun, Zhu Jianming, Liu Guangshen, Liu Congqiang, and Tao Faxiang (2006) Changes of natural 13C abundance in microbial biomass during litter decomposition [J]. Appl. Soil Ecol. 33, 3–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pieters A.J., Paul M.J., and Lawlor D.W. (2001) Low sink demand limits photosynthesis under Pi deficiency [J]. Exp. Bot. 52, 1083–1091.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rhizopoulou S., Pantis J.D., Triantafylli E., and Vokou D. (1997) Ecophysiological adaptations of Asphodelus aestivus to Mediterranean climate periodicity: water relations and energetic status [J]. Ecography. 20, 626–633.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers A., Gibon Y., Stitt M., Morgan P.B., Bernacchi C.J., Ort D.R., and Long S.P. (2006) Increased C availability at elevated carbon dioxide concentration improves N assimilation in a legume [J]. Plant Cell Environ. 29, 1651–1658.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savidge W.B. and Blair N.E. (2004) Patterns of intramolecular carbon isotopic heterogeneity within amino acids of autotrophs and heterotrophs [J]. Oecologia. 139, 178–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schachtman D.P., Reid R.J., and Ayling S.M. (1998) Phosphorus uptake by plants: from soil to cell [J]. Plant Physiol. 116, 447–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schlesinger W.H. (2004) Better living through biogeochemistry [J]. Ecology. 85, 2402–2407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulze J. (2004) How are nitrogen fixation rates regulated in legumes? [J]. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci., 167, 125–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Serraj R., Sinclair T.R., and Purcell L.C. (1999) Symbiotic N2 fixation response to drought [J]. Exp. Bot. 50, 143–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Somado E.A., Sahrawat K.L., and Kuehne R.F. (2006) Rock phosphate-P enhances biomass and nitrogen accumulation by legumes in upland crop production systems in humid West Africa [J]. Biol. Fertil. Soils. 43, 124–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sprent J.I. (2008) 60Ma of legume nodulation. What’s new? What’s changing [J]. Exp. Bot. 59, 1081–1084.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sprent J.I. and James E.K. (2007) Legume evolution: where do nodules and mycorrhizas fit in [J]. Plant Physiology. 144, 575–581.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang C., Unkovich M.J., Bowden J.W. (1999) Factors affecting soil acidication under legumes. III. Acid production by N2-fixing legumes as influenced by nitrate supply [J]. New Phytol. 143, 513–521.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Terwilliger V.J., Kitajima K., Le Roux-Swarthout D.J., Mulkey S., and Wright S.J. (2001) Influences of heterotrophic and autotrophic resource use on carbon and hydrogen isotopic compositions of tropical tree leaves [J]. Isot. Environ. Healt. S. 37, 133–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wanek W. and Arndt S.K. (2002) Difference in δ15N signatures between nodulated roots and shoots of soybean is indicative of the contribution of symbiotic N2 fixation to plant N [J]. Exp. Bot. 53, 1109–1118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550002, China

    Hechun Piao & Congqiang Liu

Authors
  1. Hechun Piao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Congqiang Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hechun Piao.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Piao, H., Liu, C. Response of biomass accumulation and nodulation by Vicia villosa to soil conditions: Evidence from δ13C and δ15N isotopes. Chin. J. Geochem. 31, 111–119 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-012-0557-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-012-0557-3

Key words

Search

Navigation