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Photosynthesis controls of CO2 efflux from maize rhizosphere

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Abstract

The effects of different shading periods of maize plants on rhizosphere respiration and soil organic matter decomposition were investigated by using a 13C natural abundance and 14C pulse labeling simultaneously. 13C was a tracer for total C assimilated by maize during the whole growth period, and 14C was a tracer for recently assimilated C. CO2 efflux from bare soil was 4 times less than the total CO2 efflux from planted soil under normal lighting. Comparing to the normal lighting control (12/12 h day/night), eight days with reduced photosynthesis (12/36 h day/night period) and strongly reduced photosynthesis (12/84 h day/night period) resulted in 39% and 68% decrease of the total CO2 efflux from soil, respectively. The analysis of 13C natural abundance showed that root-derived CO2 efflux accounted for 82%, 68% and 56% of total CO2 efflux from the planted soil with normal, prolonged and strongly prolonged night periods, respectively. Clear diurnal dynamics of the total CO2 efflux from soil with normal day-night period as well as its strong reduction by prolonged night period indicated tight coupling with plant photosynthetic activity. The light-on events after prolonged dark periods led to increases of root-derived and therefore of total CO2 efflux from soil. Any factor affecting photosynthesis, or substrate supply to roots and rhizosphere microorganisms, is an important determinant of root-derived CO2 efflux, and thereby, total CO2 efflux from soils. 14C labeling of plants before the first light treatment did not show any significant differences in the 14CO2 respired in the rhizosphere between different dark periods because the assimilate level in the plants was high. Second labeling, conducted after prolonged night phases, showed higher contribution of recently assimilated C (14C) to the root-derived CO2 efflux by shaded plants. Results from 13C natural abundance showed that the cultivation of maize on Chromic Luvisol decreased soil organic matter (SOM) mineralization compared to unplanted soil (negative priming effect). A more important finding is the observed tight coupling of the negative rhizosphere effect on SOM decomposition with photosynthesis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA , 95064, USA

    Y. Kuzyakov & W. Cheng

  2. Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, University of Hohenheim, 70593, Stuttgart, Germany

    Y. Kuzyakov

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  1. Y. Kuzyakov
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  2. W. Cheng
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Kuzyakov, Y., Cheng, W. Photosynthesis controls of CO2 efflux from maize rhizosphere. Plant and Soil 263, 85–99 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:PLSO.0000047728.61591.fd

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