Soil Biology & Biochemistry最新文献

{"title":"Unveiling the spatial architecture of biodegradable polyester plastisphere in soil and its implications for organic matter composition","authors":"Jana Šerá ,&nbsp;Václav Pecina ,&nbsp;Vendula Mašláňová ,&nbsp;Martin Brtnický ,&nbsp;Adéla Baťová ,&nbsp;Jiří Holátko ,&nbsp;Tereza Hammerschmiedt ,&nbsp;Veronika Kučabová ,&nbsp;Ondrej Malíček ,&nbsp;Markéta Kadlečková ,&nbsp;Jiří Kučerík ,&nbsp;Marek Koutný","doi":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110050","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110050","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biodegradable plastics (BPs) are increasingly presented as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics; however, their ecological effects on soils are poorly understood. BPs can alter soil microbiomes and nutrient cycling; yet, the extent, dynamics, and effects of the plastisphere on soil organic matter (SOM) after biodegradation remain underexplored. This study characterized the microbial plastisphere of three BPs, poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA), and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), and measured polymer biodegradation to link microbial dynamics with material breakdown. Metagenomics, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis showed that these polymers formed structured plastispheres that significantly altered microbial communities and SOM. Each polymer hosted a distinct plastisphere; bacterial communities diverged more strongly between polymers than fungal ones. Functional profiling revealed shifts in nitrogen metabolism and ecological strategies at BP surfaces, including a decrease in nitrifiers and an increase in parasitic/pathogenic fungi. The plastisphere extended up to 1.25 mm for bacteria and 2.75 mm for fungi. PHB plastispheres were enriched in <em>Comamonadaceae</em>, <em>Oxalobacteriaceae</em>, and <em>Rhodocyclaceae</em>; PBAT favored <em>Xanthobacteraceae</em> and <em>Burkholderiaceae</em>; <em>Xanthomonadaceae</em> colonized all BPs. Fungal communities were dominated by <em>Nectriaceae</em>, <em>Herpotrichiellaceae</em>, and <em>Aspergillaceae</em>, and their composition changed over time. BP exposure reduced SOM, most strongly for PHB and PBSA, and to a lesser extent for PBAT, suggesting a positive priming effect. Overall, BP degradation promoted nitrogen-limited conditions and host-dependent microbial strategies. Although plastisphere communities showed signs of stabilization after 350 days, full recovery of microbial composition and SOM may require longer, indicating potential long-term impacts of BPs on soil ecosystems. These results underscore that BPs can alter soil microbial ecology and organic matter turnover, highlighting the need for further long-term studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21888,"journal":{"name":"Soil Biology & Biochemistry","volume":"214 ","pages":"Article 110050"},"PeriodicalIF":10.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145657199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Foliar phosphorus concentrations in Bahiagrass are well-predicted by the abundance of a Fusarium taxa","authors":"Daniel F. Petticord ,&nbsp;Ran Zhi ,&nbsp;Elizabeth H. Boughton ,&nbsp;Yuxi Guo ,&nbsp;Hui-Ling Liao ,&nbsp;Alma L. Reyes ,&nbsp;Jiangxiao Qiu ,&nbsp;Jed P. Sparks","doi":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110049","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110049","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sustaining agricultural productivity in phosphorus-poor soils requires innovation to reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers. One underexplored solution is the role of fungi in enhancing plant phosphorus (P) acquisition. We examined fungal diversity in the rhizosphere and roots of <em>Paspalum notatum</em>, a globally important forage grass, across a soil P gradient in a subtropical pasture. Rhizosphere fungal communities were more diverse than those associated with roots, though root communities were more compositionally distinct among plants. Variation in foliar P concentrations was partially explained by plant-available P, percent carbon, and soil moisture (R² = 0.58). DESeq2 analysis identified two taxa whose relative abundance shifted with foliar P: a putative <em>Fusarium variasi</em> ASV that increased with P, and an unidentified <em>Clavariaceae</em> ASV that declined. Incorporating these taxa into regression models improved predictions of foliar P, with Total P and the <em>Fusarium</em> ASV together explaining 67.8 % of variation. Although this <em>Fusarium</em> ASV is labeled as a pathogen in the FungalTraits database, not all <em>Fusarium</em> strains negatively affect plants. Many are weakly pathogenic or beneficial, often promoting growth by suppressing more virulent pathogens through competition in the rhizosphere. A key mechanism underlying this competition is iron acquisition. We speculate that this same strategy may have an underrecognized side effect: mobilizing phosphorus from iron-bound pools. In highly weathered tropical soils, where calcium and magnesium are depleted and phosphorus is commonly occluded by iron oxides, such iron competition could indirectly enhance plant P availability. Our findings generate two non-exclusive hypotheses: (a) this <em>Fusarium</em> strain may provide genuine benefits by mobilizing P, or (b) its increased abundance may reflect low-virulence pathogenicity that suppresses biomass more than P uptake, effectively concentrating foliar P. These results highlight the need to reassess the ecological roles of rhizosphere <em>Fusarium</em> and related taxa—not only as potential pathogens but also as contributors to nutrient cycling in P-limited ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21888,"journal":{"name":"Soil Biology & Biochemistry","volume":"214 ","pages":"Article 110049"},"PeriodicalIF":10.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145613436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Actinobacteria, mycorrhizae, and the biology of soil aggregate stability","authors":"Kinsey Reed Close ,&nbsp;Damon LeMaster ,&nbsp;Ronald Schartiger ,&nbsp;Kayla Guthrie ,&nbsp;Jennifer Kane ,&nbsp;James Kotcon ,&nbsp;Ember Morrissey","doi":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110048","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110048","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil macroaggregate stability is an essential component of soil health. Microbes can enhance macroaggregate stability; however, which microorganisms are responsible remains poorly understood. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have long been credited as the primary biological stabilizers despite conflicting information. Soil bacteria, particularly Actinobacteria, can also possess mycelial-like, filamentous growth and many bacteria produce substantial extracellular polymeric substances that may enhance soil macroaggregate stability. Using a novel combination of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiling and the SLAKES application, we evaluated microbial PLFA biomarker composition and macroaggregate stability in pasture soils across Appalachia. Here, we show the best predictors of macroaggregate stability to be Actinobacteria, gram-negative bacteria, and gram-positive bacteria. These findings challenge prevailing scientific narrative and highlight the need to further investigate bacteria as a source of macroaggregate stability in soil.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21888,"journal":{"name":"Soil Biology & Biochemistry","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 110048"},"PeriodicalIF":10.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145609744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Increased drought intensity stimulates the extracellular polymeric substance accumulation and their contribution to soil organic carbon rather than microbial necromass","authors":"Huijun Li ,&nbsp;Baorong Wang ,&nbsp;Haoning Chen ,&nbsp;Na Li ,&nbsp;Yue Zhou ,&nbsp;Zhaolong Zhu ,&nbsp;Jinshi Jian ,&nbsp;Gurpal S. Toor ,&nbsp;Shaoshan An","doi":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110044","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110044","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Beyond the recognized role of microbial cell wall residues in soil organic carbon (SOC), microbes under drought stress appear to strategically divert C toward the production of extracellular polymers (EPS), positioning them as a dynamic C pool. Their contrasting environmental behavior and turnover create a fundamental uncertainty in predicting SOC dynamics in drying ecosystems. Despite their importance, the dynamics of EPS and microbial necromass (indicated by amino sugars) under prolonged drought, their relative contributions to SOC accumulation, and the factors regulating them remain poorly constrained. We hypothesized that intensified drought would preferentially stimulate EPS accumulation over microbial necromass, as microbes divert more C toward EPS synthesis to mitigate water stress. To test this, a 9-year drought experiment was conducted with four treatments (control and 20 %, 40 %, and 60 % reductions). We found that under prolonged drought, the contents of both EPS and microbial necromass declined, with the former decreasing by 30.2 % and the latter more sharply by 76.0 % under extreme conditions, indicating their asynchronous formation and accumulation. However, increasing drought intensity enhanced the EPS accumulation coefficient rather than that of microbial necromass, indicating a greater microbial C investment in EPS production and higher formation efficiency under water stress. Long-term drought also restructured the microbial community, shifting C allocation from biomass growth and necromass formation (associated with taxa like Proteobacteria and Ascomycota) toward EPS production (e.g., Bacteroidota<em>,</em> Basidiomycota and Glomeromycota). In parallel, abiotic variables such as Olsen phosphorus, nitrate, and ammonium were tightly coupled to EPS accumulation, underscoring EPS role in sustaining bioavailable nutrient pools as soil moisture declines. Collectively, these findings provide direct evidence that EPS contributes more actively to SOC than microbial necromass. The strategic shift in microbial carbon from necromass to EPS buffers SOC pools, with important implications for ecosystem C cycling and climate feedbacks under drought.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21888,"journal":{"name":"Soil Biology & Biochemistry","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 110044"},"PeriodicalIF":10.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145609489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From soil to symbiosis: elemental filtering in a termite-fungus mutualism","authors":"Suzanne Schmidt ,&nbsp;Kasun H. Bodawatta ,&nbsp;Bertil Jensen Bille ,&nbsp;Felix Krogh Vissing ,&nbsp;Kolotchèlèma Simon Silué ,&nbsp;N'golo A. Koné ,&nbsp;Erin L. Cole ,&nbsp;Søren Rosendahl ,&nbsp;Jonathan Z. Shik ,&nbsp;Michael Poulsen","doi":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110045","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110045","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>All organisms require a balanced supply of over 20 chemical elements, and even small imbalances can limit performance and fitness. Organisms thus employ diverse adaptations for acquiring and regulating balanced combinations of these elemental resources. In farming mutualisms, adaptations of domesticated crops can guide the accumulation of critical elements from soil or mulched detritus for partner use. It is therefore reasonable to predict systematic shifts in elemental abundance and variance across farming stages – from substrate provisioning and crop assimilation to the final production of edible yield. We tested this hypothesis with fungus-farming termites that cultivate fungi in combs built from a mix of termite-provisioned organic matter and soil, in exchange for edible nutrient-rich fungal nodule structures. Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), we quantified 24 elements across fungus-farming stages – from soils, through termite guts and fresh and mature fungal combs, to final nodules. Our findings suggest 1) that termite foraging represents an initial nutritional filtering stage that enriches biogenic elemental building blocks for macronutrients (K, S, Na, and Ca) while reducing several non-biogenic and potentially toxic elements (As and Pb) and 2) fungal nodules constitute a final nutritional filtering stage that concentrates a suite of biogenic elements (P, K, S, Cu, and Zn) alongside accumulation of certain non-biogenic elements (Cd and Tl). Within fungus gardens, elemental compositions are homogenised in freshly-build combs relative to the mulch deposited from termite guts. These patterns suggest elemental filtering as reciprocal provisioning between farmers and crops, offering a framework to understand how complex mutualistic nutritional systems regulate and ultimately affect element cycling in soil ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21888,"journal":{"name":"Soil Biology & Biochemistry","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 110045"},"PeriodicalIF":10.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145583720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphological traits comparable to molecular approaches for soil nematode community analysis: a meta-analysis and field experiment","authors":"Yali Zhang ,&nbsp;Jiayao Han ,&nbsp;Joann K. Whalen ,&nbsp;Mingsen Qin ,&nbsp;Chenyu Li ,&nbsp;Yongjun Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110046","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110046","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High-throughput sequencing (HTS) has become the most widely applied molecular approach for analyzing soil nematode communities, but its consistency with traditional morphology-based methods remains insufficiently validated. Here, we compared molecular (HTS-based) and morphological approaches in characterizing nematode communities, using data from a controlled field experiment with tillage and fertilization treatments (n = 36) and 146 additional datapoints from a systematic meta-analysis. Most community-level metrics, including trophic groups, diversity indices, ecological indicators, overall community structure, and their responses to tillage and fertilization, were consistent between the two approaches, indicating that molecular data can yield reliable ecological insights comparable to those derived from morphological analysis. Nonetheless, the molecular approach detected higher genus richness but lower Shannon and evenness indices, and it tended to over-estimate omnivores-predators while under-estimating herbivores, thereby causing discrepancies in maturity and structure indices. These inconsistencies highlight methodological biases that must be carefully considered when interpreting molecular data. By integrating empirical and meta-analytical evidence, our study provides one of the most comprehensive evaluations to date of the alignment between molecular and morphological assessments of soil nematode communities. Future efforts should focus on refining molecular approaches, including improving primer coverage, expanding reference databases, and linking DNA sequences with functional traits, to further enhance the accuracy and ecological utility of HTS in nematode diversity monitoring and soil ecosystem assessment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21888,"journal":{"name":"Soil Biology & Biochemistry","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 110046"},"PeriodicalIF":10.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145583719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quinone-loaded biochar amplifies soil N2O mitigation by enhancing electron transfer for N2O reduction","authors":"Jiao Yuan ,&nbsp;Dan Yuan ,&nbsp;Tim J. Clough ,&nbsp;Xinhui Liu ,&nbsp;Lin Ma ,&nbsp;Chunsheng Hu ,&nbsp;Shuping Qin","doi":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110040","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110040","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biochar facilitates the reduction of N₂O to N₂ by promoting denitrification through its electron shuttle function, a mechanism widely recognized as key to its role in mitigating soil N₂O accumulation. This electron shuttle capacity is primarily attributed to surface redox-active functional groups, such as quinones and phenolic hydroxyls. Among these, quinone/hydroquinone (Q/QH₂) groups serve as reversible redox pairs, enhancing electron transport efficiency through cyclic electron acceptance and donation. However, the mechanisms by which quinone functional groups regulate the electron-shuttling capacity of biochar, and thereby amplify its ability to promote complete denitrification and N₂O mitigation, remain unclear. In this study, biochar with enhanced electron-shuttling capacity was prepared by incorporating redox-active quinone groups. The biochar's effectiveness in reducing soil N₂O accumulation was evaluated by incorporating it into soil. Quinone-enhanced biochar (QBC) markedly enhanced the biochar's electron-shuttling function and reduced soil N₂O accumulation by 82.3 % relative to a control biochar. Furthermore, quinone-loaded biochar increased the relative expression of <em>Acidobacteria</em> and upregulated the abundance of <em>nosZ-II</em> genes, resulting in lower N₂O/(N₂O + N₂) ratios, lower residual NO₃⁻, and higher N₂ accumulation that are consistent with more complete denitrification. Our results therefore indicate that the improved electron-shuttling function of biochar is consistent with more complete denitrification and enhanced N₂O reduction. These findings indicate that incorporating quinone groups into biochar is a viable strategy to mitigate N₂O accumulation by enhancing its electron-shuttling function.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21888,"journal":{"name":"Soil Biology & Biochemistry","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 110040"},"PeriodicalIF":10.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145567425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel approach for calorespirometry: Integrating a CO2 sensor into an isothermal microcalorimeter for simultaneous measurement of microbial heat evolution and mineralization","authors":"Shiyue Yang ,&nbsp;Sven Paufler ,&nbsp;Hauke Harms ,&nbsp;Matthias Kästner ,&nbsp;Anja Miltner ,&nbsp;Thomas Maskow","doi":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110043","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110043","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil, as the largest terrestrial carbon sink, plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration. Within soil systems, microorganisms decompose soil organic matter to generate energy and obtain carbon for growth, concomitantly release heat and CO₂ as metabolic byproducts. The calorespirometric (CR) ratio – defined as the ratio of heat production to CO₂ evolution, is a key indicator of carbon use efficiency and soil anaerobicity. However, conventional methodologies typically measure heat and CO₂ separately, with CO₂ often quantified by intermittent sampling. This discontinuous approach, compounded by the inherent heterogeneity of soil, introduces uncertainties in calorespirometric analysis. To address this limitation, an infrared CO₂ sensor was mounted onto a stainless-steel calorimetric ampoule, containing soil-glucose mixtures, enabling simultaneous real-time measurements within an isothermal microcalorimeter. The novel configuration permits continuous monitoring of both parameters, validated through comparative analysis with traditional methods. The derived CR ratios aligned with theoretical predictions for carbohydrates metabolism. Furthermore, parallel oxygen measurements enabled quantification of CR ratio based on O₂ (heat-to-O₂), and the respiratory quotient (CO₂-to-O₂), offering deeper insight into microbial carbon-energy coupling and turnover in soil systems. This methodological advancement enhances the capacity to interrogate soil biogeochemical processes under dynamic environmental conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21888,"journal":{"name":"Soil Biology & Biochemistry","volume":"214 ","pages":"Article 110043"},"PeriodicalIF":10.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145567786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biological invasions of three different alien tree species has comparable influence in soil mycobiome: increase the abundance of pathogens, and decomposers, but decrease root-associated endophytic symbionts","authors":"Robin Wilgan,&nbsp;Marta Brygida Kujawska,&nbsp;Tomasz Leski","doi":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110041","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110041","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Invasive trees can significantly transform habitats, modify nutrient cycles, and change microbial community composition and assembly processes. Therefore, they pose significant threat to nature conservation and sustainable management. However, the impacts of invasive trees on the trophy and taxonomy of soil mycobiomes in forest ecosystems remain unclear. In this study, we investigated how the invasive tree species – <em>Robinia pseudoacacia</em>, <em>Prunus serotina</em>, and <em>Quercus rubra</em> – influence soil mycobiomes in forest ecosystems. We analysed soil samples taken from an invasive tree density gradient, using 81 study stands in Poland, Central Europe. The soil mycobiome was identified using Next-Generation Sequencing of the ITS2 rDNA barcode region for fungi.</div><div>The three invasive tree species had a similar impact on the soil mycobiome. Each invasive tree reduced the relative abundance of root endophytes and increased the relative abundance of pathogens in soil. The response of saprotrophs varied, but they generally showed no negative response to invasive trees. The mycobial community composition and abundance of trophic guilds changed substantially, but taxa richness and diversity indices were weak predictors of disturbances. <em>Robinia pseudoacacia</em> had the most significant impact on the soil mycobiome, and <em>Robinia</em>-invaded stands had significantly higher N–NO3, potassium, and calcium content in soil. It is a major concern given that <em>Robinia</em> is probably the most common invasive tree in Europe. We recommend further investigation of the impact of <em>R. pseudoacacia</em> on soil microbiomes in various types of ecosystems to determine the habitats in which <em>Robinia</em> is most detrimental. This will inform targeted invasive species management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21888,"journal":{"name":"Soil Biology & Biochemistry","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 110041"},"PeriodicalIF":10.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145554828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatio-temporal distribution of enzyme activities in cowpea rhizosphere – the role of plant growth stages and nodule senescence","authors":"Elisa Karina Albrecht ,&nbsp;Maire Holz ,&nbsp;Joscha N. Becker","doi":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110042","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110042","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Legume-soil interactions are well recognised for their role in ecosystem nutrient cycling, yet specific mechanisms such as nodule senescence effects on soil nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) cycling remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effect of nodule senescence on soil enzyme activity and soil biochemical properties in the rhizospheres of cowpea (<em>Vigna unguiculata</em>) during plant growth. We conducted a rhizobox experiment using soil from the Kavango (loamy sand) and Omusati (sandy soil) regions in Northern Namibia under controlled temperature and optimum water conditions. To investigate spatial and temporal C and N release, <em>in-situ</em> zymography was conducted at early vegetative, flowering, and maturity stage (i.e. one day after the start of nodule senescence) with six replicates per soil. Three enzymes, representing the C (β-glucosidase, chitinase) and N (chitinase, leucine-aminopeptidase) cycle, were investigated. At each plant growth stage, three additional plants per soil were harvested to identify changes in soil properties, including soil organic carbon, total N, mineral N, and pH. Our results showed that enzyme activities did not vary significantly during plant growth in rhizospheres and at nodule and root surfaces. In contrast, enzyme activities significantly increased with plant growth in bulk soil, especially β-glucosidase and chitinase, with a peak at maturity stage. Particularly in the sandy soil, nodule senescence significantly increased enzyme activities. This indicates enhanced organic matter decomposition and nutrient release mainly from the nodule-influenced rhizosphere to the bulk soil and might be attributed to rhizodeposition and microbial responses to substrate availability. We conclude that nodule senescence of legumes is an important driver of enzyme activity and can be a crucial factor for managing soil properties in low-nutrient soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21888,"journal":{"name":"Soil Biology & Biochemistry","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 110042"},"PeriodicalIF":10.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145554827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}