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Updated: Nov 29, 2025
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Isolation and Analysis of Microbial Communities in Soil, Rhizosphere, and Roots in Perennial Grass Experiments
Published on: July 24, 2018
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Microbial metabolic efficiency functions as a mediator to regulate rhizosphere priming effects.
Chaoyang Mo1, Zhenhui Jiang1, Pengfei Chen1
1Institute of Environment Pollution Control and Treatment, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
The Science of the Total Environment
|November 21, 2020
Summary
Microbial metabolic efficiency (MME) regulates soil priming effects (RPE) by adjusting microbial carbon and nitrogen balance. Lower MME increases RPE, while higher MME decreases it, revealing a key mechanism in plant-soil systems.
Area of Science:
- Soil science
- Microbiology
- Plant science
Background:
- Microbial metabolic efficiency (MME) influences carbon allocation in soil systems.
- The precise role of MME in regulating rhizosphere priming effects (RPE) remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism by which MME regulates RPE in plant-soil systems.
- To explore the relationship between MME, soil carbon and nitrogen availability, and microbial biomass.
Main Methods:
- A pot experiment was conducted using two soil types, two plant species (sorghum and maize), and three growth stages.
- Measurements included RPE, enzyme activities, microbial biomass, and microbial C:N imbalance (MIC:N).
- Correlation analysis was used to determine the regulatory role of MME in RPE.
Main Results:
- Both positive and negative RPE were observed, varying with growth stage and plant species.
- Early stages showed microbial activation and N mining, shifting to preferential substrate utilization later.
- Lower MME, driven by higher MIC:N, correlated with greater RPE; higher MME with lower MIC:N correlated with lower/negative RPE.
Conclusions:
- Microbial metabolic efficiency (MME), modulated by microbial C:N imbalance (MIC:N), acts as a crucial mediator of rhizosphere priming effects (RPE).
- Understanding this MME-MIC:N-RPE axis is key to managing soil carbon and nutrient cycling in planted soils.
Keywords:
C and N availabilityCarbon allocationMicrobial C:N imbalancePhysiological propertyPlant-soil systemsMore Related Videos
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