00671nas a2200205 4500008004100000245012800041210006900169300001400238490000800252100001800260700001800278700001700296700001700313700001900330700001300349700001500362700001300377700001900390856005600409 2019 eng d00aFollowing legume establishment, microbial and chemical associations facilitate improved productivity in degraded grasslands0 aFollowing legume establishment microbial and chemical associatio a273 - 2920 v4431 aZhou, Jiqiong1 aZhang, Fengge1 aHuo, Yunqian1 aWilson, G.T.1 aCobb, Adam, B.1 aXu, Xixi1 aXiong, Xue1 aLiu, Lin1 aZhang, Yingjun uhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11104-019-04169-900569nas a2200157 4500008004100000245012900041210006900170300001400239490000700253100001800260700001700278700001900295700001700314700001900331856006100350 2019 eng d00aPhosphorus and mowing improve native alfalfa establishment, facilitating restoration of grassland productivity and diversity0 aPhosphorus and mowing improve native alfalfa establishment facil a647 - 6570 v301 aZhou, Jiqiong1 aWilson, G.T.1 aCobb, Adam, B.1 aYang, Gaowen1 aZhang, Yingjun uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ldr.325102922nas a2200205 4500008004100000245012500041210006900166300000800235490000600243520225200249100001802501700001702519700001902536700001702555700001802572700001702590700001702607700001902624856007302643 2018 eng d00aTrichoderma biofertilizer links to altered soil chemistry, altered microbial communities, and improved grassland biomass0 aTrichoderma biofertilizer links to altered soil chemistry altere a8480 v93 a

In grasslands, forage and livestock production results in soil nutrient deficits as grasslands typically receive no nutrient inputs, leading to a loss of grassland biomass. The application of mature compost has been shown to effectively increase grassland nutrient availability. However, research on fertilization regime influence and potential microbial ecological regulation mechanisms are rarely conducted in grassland soil. We conducted a two-year experiment in meadow steppe grasslands, focusing on above- and belowground consequences of organic or Trichoderma biofertilizer applications and potential soil microbial ecological mechanisms underlying soil chemistry and microbial community responses. Grassland biomass significantly (p = 0.019) increased following amendment with 9,000 kg ha−1 of Trichoderma biofertilizer (composted cattle manure + inoculum) compared with other assessed organic or biofertilizer rates, except for BOF3000 (fertilized with 3,000 kg ha−1 biofertilizer). This rate of Trichoderma biofertilizer treatment increased soil antifungal compounds that may suppress pathogenic fungi, potentially partially responsible for improved grassland biomass. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) revealed soil chemistry and fungal communities were all separated by different fertilization regime. Trichoderma biofertilizer (9,000 kg ha−1) increased relative abundances of Archaeorhizomyces and Trichoderma while decreasing Ophiosphaerella. Trichoderma can improve grassland biomass, while Ophiosphaerella has the opposite effect as it may secrete metabolites causing grass necrosis. Correlations between soil properties and microbial genera showed plant-available phosphorus may influence grassland biomass by increasing Archaeorhizomyces and Trichoderma while reducing Ophiosphaerella. According to our structural equation modeling (SEM), Trichoderma abundance was the primary contributor to aboveground grassland biomass. Our results suggest Trichoderma biofertilizer could be an important tool for management of soils and ultimately grassland plant biomass.

1 aZhang, Fengge1 aHuo, Yunqian1 aCobb, Adam, B.1 aLuo, Gongwen1 aZhou, Jiqiong1 aYang, Gaowen1 aWilson, G.T.1 aZhang, Yingjun uhttp://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00848/full03815nas a2200181 4500008004100000245011600041210006900157300001200226490000700238520321600245100001803461700001903479700001703498700001903515700001503534700001703549856006703566 2017 eng d00aSmall vegetation gaps increase reseeded yellow-flowered alfalfa performance and production in native grasslands0 aSmall vegetation gaps increase reseeded yellowflowered alfalfa p a41 - 520 v243 a

Reseeding yellow-flowered alfalfa (YFA) in degraded grasslands may require a vegetation-free microsite for germination and subsequent establishment. This study aimed to examine the role of microclimates of different-sized vegetation gaps on seedling performance and adult plant production of YFA. Field microsites were established in the meadow steppe of Hulunber, Inner Mongolia, China. Seedling performance, plant production, the microclimate within vegetation gaps, and soil nutrients (plant-available N, P, and K, total N concentration) were assessed at the end of each growing season from 2013 to 2015. Our results indicate light availability, and topsoil temperature of each gap were significantly increased as gap size increased, while topsoil moisture and air relative moisture were decreased in larger gaps. Small gaps (diameter ≤10 cm) improved seedling emergence, survival, biomass, and root nodulation, as compared with seedling performance associated with the larger gaps, presumably in response to increased shade and moisture. Additionally, large gaps (>20 or >40 cm) were characterized by significantly lower plant-available P, total N concentrations, plant-available K, and soil pH. However, root exclusion treatments did not improve overall seedling performance, plant production, or soil properties, as compared to corresponding microsites with root presence, regardless of gap size. Our results suggest that reseeding YFA into grasslands where disturbance, such as light grazing, has resulted in small gaps will be more effective than in highly degraded grasslands.

1 aZhou, Jiqiong1 aZhang, Yingjun1 aWilson, G.T.1 aCobb, Adam, B.1 aLu, Wenjie1 aGuo, Yanping uhttps://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1439179117300464