Cited by 323Soil Carbon and Nitrogen DynamicsMycorrhizal Fungi and Plant InteractionsPlant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity

Rhizosphere priming effect: Its functional relationships with microbial turnover, evapotranspiration, and C–N budgets

Cheng, Weixin·2009·Soil Biology and Biochemistry

Abstract

Understanding soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition and its interaction with rhizosphere processes is a crucial topic in soil biology and ecology. Using a natural 13C tracer method to separately measure SOM-derived CO2 from root-derived CO2, this study aims to connect the level of rhizosphere-dependent SOM decomposition with the C and N balance of the whole plant-soil system, and to mechanistically link the rhizosphere priming effect to soil microbial turnover and evapotranspiration. Results indicated that the magnitude of the rhizosphere priming effect on SOM decomposition varied widely, from zero to more than 380% of the unplanted control, and was largely influenced by plant species and phenology. Balancing the extra soil C loss from the strong rhizosphere priming effect in the planted treatments with C inputs from rhizodeposits and root biomass, the whole plant-soil system remained with a net carbon gain at the end of the experiment. The increased soil microbial biomass turnover rate and the enhanced evapotranspiration rate in the planted treatments had clear positive relationships with the level of the rhizosphere priming effect. The rhizosphere enhancement of soil carbon mineralization in the planted treatments did not result in a proportional increase in net N mineralization, suggesting a possible de-coupling of C cycling with N cycling in the rhizosphere.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.soilbio.2008.04.018

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43 of 43 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Soil organic carbon can be highly reduced through disturbance such as tillage practices.

    “the SOC can be highly reduced through the disturbance (e.g., tillage practices)”

    From Bioenergy production and environmental impacts (2018) · cites this paper as Cheng 2009

  • Living roots can decrease (50%) or increase (380%) soil organic carbon mineralisation rates, causing losses equivalent to the root carbon input to soil, with the range depending on plant species and age.

    “However, living roots can decrease (50 %) or increase (380 %) SOC mineralisation rates causing losses equivalent to the root C input to soil, the range depending on plant species and age [103].”
  • Decomposition of old SOM can be affected by root priming, which varies with root density along the soil profile and crop C balance.

    “In addition, decomposition of old SOM can be affected by root priming [103], which varies with root density along the soil profile and crop C balance [99].”

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Authors
Cheng, W.
Affiliations
University of California, Santa Cruz (US)
Corresponding author
Cheng, Weixin
Venue
Soil Biology and Biochemistry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-09
Volume
41
Issue
9
Pages
1795-1801
ISSN
0038-0717 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2070571729
Cited by
323
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 17
FWCI
14.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Soil Biology and Biochemistry (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • University of California, Davis
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
Keywords
rhizosphere priming effect, soil organic matter decomposition, evapotranspiration, carbon-nitrogen balance, soil carbon mineralization, soil nitrogen mineralization, 13C tracer, rhizodeposits, plant-soil interactions, plant species effects, phenology

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