The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cover crop mixture diversity on cover crop function. Specifically, this study evaluated the effect of cover crop species and functional richness on aboveground biomass productivity, weed suppression, soil nutrient retention, soil microbial community characteristics, and performance stability. Twenty to forty cover crop treatments were re...

An experiment was performed to study the effect of feeding by the larvae of Tipula paludosa (Meig.) on the plant biomass of two contrasting plant species and on the soil microbial community, under controlled conditions. Agrostis capillaris (L.) (bentgrass) and Trifolium repens (L.) (white clover), were grown in pots, in monoculture and as mixtures, containing soil from an upland grassland site ...

BACKGROUND Earthworms play a critical role in organic matter decomposition because of the interactions they establish with microorganisms. The ingestion, digestion, assimilation of organic material in the gut and then casting is the first step in earthworm-microorganism interactions. The current knowledge of these direct effects is still limited for epigeic earthworm species, mainly those livin...

The number of studies focused on the transformation and sequestration of soil organic carbon (C) has dramatically increased in recent years due to growing interest in understanding the global C cycle. While it is readily accepted that terrestrial C dynamics are heavily influenced by the catabolic and anabolic activities of microorganisms, the incorporation of microbial biomass components into s...

Seamounts are considered to be "hotspots" of marine life but, their role in oceans primary productivity is still under discussion. We have studied the microbial community structure and biomass of the epipelagic zone (0-150 m) at two northeast Atlantic seamounts (Seine and Sedlo) and compared those with the surrounding ocean. Results from two cruises to Sedlo and three to Seine are presented. Ma...

In grassland ecosystems, N and P fertilization often increase plant productivity, but there is no concensus if fertilization affects soil C fractions. We tested effects of N, P and N+P fertilization at 5, 10, 15 g m-2 yr-1 (N5, N10, N15, P5, P10, P15, N5P5, N10P10, and N15P15) compared to unfertilized control on soil C, soil microbial biomass and functional diversity at the 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm...

abstract cadmium is one of the heavy metals with a considerable importance for its potential toxic effects on soil microbial activities and composition. although, the toxic effect of cadmium on soil microbial activities is somewhat well-known, but the extent to which cd affects soil biota depends largely on soil properties and conditions, particularly soil organic matter contents. thus, the aim...

Currently, most ethanol produced in the United States is derived from maize kernel, at levels in excess of four billion gallons per year. Plant lignocellulosic biomass is renewable, cheap and globally available at 10-50 billion tons per year. At present, plant biomass is converted to fermentable sugars for the production of biofuels using pretreatment processes that disrupt the lignocellulose a...

Exotic plant species impact belowground processes by influencing resource availability through enhanced microbial activity as a consequence of litter inputs. We have little understanding of the impact of microbe-driven nutrient fluctuations on the biomass accumulation of invasive species. Here we attempt to answer the question on whether soil community-driven nitrogen availability influences in...