Microfauna - microflora - plant interactions: extending the soil “microbial loop concept” of nitrogen mineralization

Soil nematodes are composed of multiple feeding groups, distinct energy channels and with strong interactions with plant growth, but to date most studies focused on bacterivorous nematodes, largely neglecting the contribution of herbivorous and fungivorous nematodes. We conducted mesocosm experiments to investigate whether and how herbivorous and microbivorous microfauna, separately and in combination, enhance N mineralization and plant growth.

Keywords:nitrogen mineralization, soil microflora, plant-root interaction, microbial loop, soil microfauna

Disciplines:Natural resource management, Soil ecology