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CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Plant functional groups shape microbial colonization and decomposition dynamics in grassland soils
Soil biology & biochemistry, Vol.214, 110067
2026
Abstract
Litter decomposition is a key ecosystem process that governs nutrient release and organic matter turnover in terrestrial ecosystems. While plants are known to influence rhizosphere microbiome, their role in shaping microbial colonization of litter, and further regulating decomposition remains less understood. Here, we employed a field-based Tea Bag Index (TBI) experiment to investigate how living plant functional groups (PFGs), including C3, C4, forb, and N2-fixing legumes affect decomposition of standardized tea substrates (Green tea = labile; Rooibos tea = recalcitrant) and the associated microbial communities. Our results demonstrate that PFG type exerted a stronger influence on decomposition rate than species richness. The PFG impacts on decomposition were linked directly with shifts in substrate-colonizing communities, and indirectly with higher soil nitrate, N mineralization, and favourable moisture conditions. Microbial assemblages on Green vs Rooibos tea were distinct, indicating strong substrate filtering with PFG-mediated selection of decomposer communities. Across both substrates, PFGs and soil properties jointly explained most of the variance in decomposition rate, with additional, context-dependent contributions from bacterial and faunal (protist and metazoan) diversity reflecting their functional roles in litter breakdown. These findings underscore the central role of PFGs in structuring decomposer communities and regulating key soil processes. Preserving plant functional diversity is therefore essential for preserving microbial-mediated soil processes and ensuring grassland ecosystem resilience.
Details
- Title
- Plant functional groups shape microbial colonization and decomposition dynamics in grassland soils
- Authors/Creators
- Ramesha H. Jayaramaiah - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Farming SystemsCatarina S.C. Martins - Western Sydney UniversityEleonora Egidi - Western Sydney UniversityCatriona A. Macdonald - Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, AustraliaJun-Tao Wang - Western Sydney UniversityNico Eisenhauer - German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity ResearchPeter B. Reich - Western Sydney UniversityManuel Delgado-Baquerizo - Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico. Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Av. Reina Mercedes 10, E-41012, Sevilla, SpainBrajesh K. Singh - Western Sydney University
- Publication Details
- Soil biology & biochemistry, Vol.214, 110067
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd.
- Number of pages
- 14
- Identifiers
- 991005845962807891
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Authors.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- SoilsWest; Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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Source: InCites
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.45 Soil Science
- 3.45.112 Soil Carbon Dynamics
- Web Of Science research areas
- Soil Science
- ESI research areas
- Agricultural Sciences