Codes and dataset for title "Plant species specific effects of root exudates on the stabilization of soil organic matter".

This figshare item offers codes and dataset of figures and tables from paper with title "Plant species specific effects of root exudates on the stabilization of soil organic matter".

The abstract of this paper is:

Root exudates are labile organic carbon (C) compounds released by plants into soil that can both stimulate its decomposition by enhancing microbial activity and promote the formation of stable soil organic matter (SOM). Drought alters the composition of root exudates, potentially shifting the balance between the loss and formation of particulate organic matter (POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM). Here, we tested how root exudates from three grassland species, Lolium perenne, Ranunculus acris, and Trifolium pratense, that experienced drought affect microbial activity, community composition, and SOM persistence. We collected root exudates released from droughted plants and applied them repeatedly to unconditioned soils over five months. We monitored respiration and measured soil and microbial properties at the final harvest. We found that root exudates from R. acris and T. pratense promoted POM decomposition and concomitantly increased MAOM formation. Root exudates from drought-stressed R. acris and T. pratense did not affect SOM pools but enhanced microbial respiration, likely due to induced nitrogen (N) limitation, as evidenced by an increased C/N ratio in POM. These findings advance our understanding of the dual role of root exudates in the loss and formation of SOM pools and the potential effects of drought on these processes.