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Plant community legacy effects on nutrient cycling, fungal decomposer communities and decomposition in a temperate grassland

Cite this dataset

Jongen, Renske et al. (2021). Plant community legacy effects on nutrient cycling, fungal decomposer communities and decomposition in a temperate grassland [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.h18931zmt

Abstract

Soil legacies mediated by plant species-specific microbial communities are major drivers of plant community dynamics. Most soil legacy studies focus on the role of pathogens and mutualists in driving these processes, while much less is known about plant litter-mediated changes to the soil microbial community. Here, we used an existing plant-soil feedback field experiment in which plant communities with different growth strategies (i.e., fast versus slow) and different proportions of functional groups (grasses versus forbs) were allowed to condition the soil over contrasting temporal scales (i.e., one versus two years) in a natural grassland. In the feedback phase, we removed the existent plant community, and replaced it with a standardized response plant community. We then tested the legacy effects of these different soil conditioning treatments on decomposition processes, nutrient cycling and soil decomposer community composition. Soil legacy effects on decomposition and the soil decomposer community composition were most evident right after the start of the feedback phase, but disappeared soon after the new community established. The soil conditioning time and years since disturbance affected most of the soil functions consistently, while no strong effects of plant functional group and plant growth strategy were found. We conclude that after disturbance, it is recovery time, not soil legacy effects, that is the most important factor driving soil functions.

Methods

A plant-soil feedback field experiment comprised of plant communities with different growth strategies (i.e., fast versus slow) and different proportions of functional groups (grasses versus forbs) that were allowed to condition the soil over contrasting temporal scales (i.e., one versus two years) was conducted. The experiment consisted of a conditioning phase and a feedback phase. During the conditioning phase, each plot was divided into three subplots. We removed the existent plant community and replaced it with target plant communities in two successive years in two different subplots. During the feedback phase, all plots were sown with a standard species-rich plant community and characteristics of the plant community and the soil were measured. Here, standardized decomposition rate measurements, nutrient concentrations extracted from resin capsules, soil chemistry, soil organic matter content and above-ground plant biomass are reported for both consecutive years of the feedback phase.

Funding

Dutch Research Council, Award: 865.14.006