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- Title
Soil moisture modulates biological nitrification inhibitors release in sorghum plants.
- Authors
Bozal-Leorri, Adrián; Arregui, Luis Miguel; Torralbo, Fernando; González-Moro, Mª Begoña; González-Murua, Carmen; Aparicio-Tejo, Pedro
- Abstract
Background and aims: Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is able to exude allelochemicals with biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) capacity. Therefore, sorghum might be an option as cover crop since its BNI ability may reduce N pollution in the following crop due to a decreased nitrification. However, BNI exudation is related to the physiological state and development of the plant, so abiotic stresses such as drought might modify the rate of BNI exudation. Hence, the objective was to determine the effect of drought stress on sorghum plants' BNI release. Methods: The residual effects of sorghum crops over ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) were monitored in a 3-year field experiment. In a controlled-conditions experiment, sorghum plants were grown under Watered (60% WFPS) or Moderate drought (30% WFPS) conditions, and fertilized with ammonium sulphate (A), ammonium sulphate + DMPP (A+D), or potassium nitrate (KNO3−). Soil mineral N was determined, and AOB populations were quantified. Additionally, plant biomass, isotopic discrimination of N and C, and photosynthetic parameters were measured in sorghum plants. Results: In the driest year, sorghum was able to reduce the AOB relative abundance by 50% at field conditions. In the plant-soil microcosm, drought stress reduced leaf photosynthetic parameters, which had an impact on plant biomass. Under these conditions, sorghum plants exposed to Moderate drought reduced the AOB abundance of A treatment by 25% compared to Watered treatment. Conclusion: The release of BNI by sorghum under limited water conditions might ensure high soil NH4+-N pool for crop uptake due to a reduction of nitrifying microorganisms.
- Subjects
NITRIFICATION inhibitors; SORGHUM; SOIL moisture; PLANT biomass; COVER crops; AMMONIA-oxidizing bacteria; GRASSLAND soils
- Publication
Plant & Soil, 2023, Vol 487, Issue 1/2, p197
- ISSN
0032-079X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11104-023-05913-y