In:
New Phytologist, Wiley, Vol. 239, No. 5 ( 2023-09), p. 1637-1650
Abstract:
Resource complementarity can contribute to enhanced ecosystem functioning in diverse plant communities, but the role of facilitation in the enhanced complementarity is poorly understood. Here, we use leaf manganese concentration ([Mn]) as a proxy for rhizosheath carboxylate concentration to explore novel mechanisms of complementarity mediated by phosphorus (P) facilitation. In pot experiments, we showed that mixtures involving Carex korshinskyi , an efficient P‐mobilizing species, exhibited greater biomass and relative complementarity effect than combinations without C. korshinskyi on P‐deficient soils. Compared with monocultures, leaf [Mn] and [P] of species that are inefficient at P mobilization increased by 27% and 21% when grown with C. korshinskyi (i.e. interspecific P facilitation via carboxylates) rather than next to another inefficient P‐mobilizing species. This experimental result was supported by a meta‐analysis including a range of efficient P‐mobilizing species. Phosphorus facilitation enhanced the relative complementarity effect in low‐P environments, related to a greater change in several facilitated species of their root morphological traits relative to those in monoculture. Using leaf [Mn] as a proxy, we highlight a vital mechanism of interspecific P facilitation via belowground processes and provide evidence for the pivotal role of P facilitation mediated by the plasticity of root traits in biodiversity research.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0028-646X
,
1469-8137
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2023
detail.hit.zdb_id:
208885-X
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1472194-6
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