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Plant diversity and root traits benefit physical properties key to soil function in grasslands

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Plant diversity and root traits benefit physical properties key to soil function in grasslands. / Gould, Iain; Quinton, John Norman; Weigelt, Alexandra et al.
In: Ecology Letters, Vol. 19, No. 9, 09.2016, p. 1140-1149.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineLetterpeer-review

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Gould I, Quinton JN, Weigelt A, De Deyn GB, Bardgett R. Plant diversity and root traits benefit physical properties key to soil function in grasslands. Ecology Letters. 2016 Sept;19(9):1140-1149. Epub 2016 Jul 26. doi: 10.1111/ele.12652

Author

Gould, Iain ; Quinton, John Norman ; Weigelt, Alexandra et al. / Plant diversity and root traits benefit physical properties key to soil function in grasslands. In: Ecology Letters. 2016 ; Vol. 19, No. 9. pp. 1140-1149.

Bibtex

@article{458ad0e769504e309374125fbf628548,
title = "Plant diversity and root traits benefit physical properties key to soil function in grasslands",
abstract = "Plant diversity loss impairs ecosystem functioning, including important effects on soil. Most studies that have explored plant diversity effects belowground, however, have largely focused on biological processes. As such, our understanding of how plant diversity impacts the soil physical environment remains limited, despite the fundamental role soil physical structure plays in ensuring soil function and ecosystem service provision. Here, in both a glasshouse and a long-term field study, we show that high plant diversity in grassland systems increases soil aggregate stability, a vital structural property of soil, and that root traits play a major role in determining diversity effects. We also reveal that the presence of particular plant species within mixed communities affects an even wider range of soil physical processes, including hydrology and soil strength regimes. Our results indicate that alongside well-documented effects on ecosystem functioning, plant diversity and root traits also benefit essential soil physical properties.",
keywords = "Aggregate stability, biodiversity, grasslands, root traits, soil physics",
author = "Iain Gould and Quinton, {John Norman} and Alexandra Weigelt and {De Deyn}, {Gerlinde Barbra} and Richard Bardgett",
year = "2016",
month = sep,
doi = "10.1111/ele.12652",
language = "English",
volume = "19",
pages = "1140--1149",
journal = "Ecology Letters",
issn = "1461-023X",
publisher = "Wiley",
number = "9",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Plant diversity and root traits benefit physical properties key to soil function in grasslands

AU - Gould, Iain

AU - Quinton, John Norman

AU - Weigelt, Alexandra

AU - De Deyn, Gerlinde Barbra

AU - Bardgett, Richard

PY - 2016/9

Y1 - 2016/9

N2 - Plant diversity loss impairs ecosystem functioning, including important effects on soil. Most studies that have explored plant diversity effects belowground, however, have largely focused on biological processes. As such, our understanding of how plant diversity impacts the soil physical environment remains limited, despite the fundamental role soil physical structure plays in ensuring soil function and ecosystem service provision. Here, in both a glasshouse and a long-term field study, we show that high plant diversity in grassland systems increases soil aggregate stability, a vital structural property of soil, and that root traits play a major role in determining diversity effects. We also reveal that the presence of particular plant species within mixed communities affects an even wider range of soil physical processes, including hydrology and soil strength regimes. Our results indicate that alongside well-documented effects on ecosystem functioning, plant diversity and root traits also benefit essential soil physical properties.

AB - Plant diversity loss impairs ecosystem functioning, including important effects on soil. Most studies that have explored plant diversity effects belowground, however, have largely focused on biological processes. As such, our understanding of how plant diversity impacts the soil physical environment remains limited, despite the fundamental role soil physical structure plays in ensuring soil function and ecosystem service provision. Here, in both a glasshouse and a long-term field study, we show that high plant diversity in grassland systems increases soil aggregate stability, a vital structural property of soil, and that root traits play a major role in determining diversity effects. We also reveal that the presence of particular plant species within mixed communities affects an even wider range of soil physical processes, including hydrology and soil strength regimes. Our results indicate that alongside well-documented effects on ecosystem functioning, plant diversity and root traits also benefit essential soil physical properties.

KW - Aggregate stability

KW - biodiversity

KW - grasslands

KW - root traits

KW - soil physics

U2 - 10.1111/ele.12652

DO - 10.1111/ele.12652

M3 - Letter

VL - 19

SP - 1140

EP - 1149

JO - Ecology Letters

JF - Ecology Letters

SN - 1461-023X

IS - 9

ER -