Rhizosphere priming: a nutrient perspective

Rhizosphere priming is the change in decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) caused by root activity. Rhizosphere priming plays a crucial role in soil carbon (C) dynamics and their response to global climate change. Rhizosphere priming may be affected by soil nutrient availability, but rhizosphere priming itself can also affect nutrient supply to plants. These interactive effects may be of particular relevance in understanding the sustained increase in plant growth and nutrient supply in response to a rise in atmospheric CO2 concentration. We examined how these interactions were affected by elevated CO2 in two similar semiarid grassland field studies. We found that an increase in rhizosphere priming…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Award: 1021559
• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy
• UD
  U.S. Department of Agriculture
• NA
  Northern Arizona University
• OO
  Office of Science
• CS
  Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

  Award: 2008-35107-18655
• AR
  Agricultural Research Service

  Award: 2008-35107-18655
• AR
  Australian Research Council

  Award: FT100100779