¹³C-Labeled Artificial Root Exudates Are Immediately Respired in a Peat Mesocosm Study

Author(s)

Raphael Müller, Andreas Maier, Erich Inselsbacher, Robert Peticzka, Gang Wang, Stephan Glatzel

Abstract

Globally, peatlands have been recognized as important carbon sinks while only covering approximately 3% of the earth’s land surface. Root exudates are known key drivers of C cycling in soils and rhizosphere priming effects have been studied extensively in terrestrial ecosystems. Their role for decomposition of peat still remains unclear, as little research about their fate and potential priming effects in peat exists. In this study, we aimed to evaluate pathways of root exudates and their short-term priming effects by daily determination of stable carbon isotope fluxes of (Formula presented.) and (Formula presented.). As the drainage of peatlands strongly alters processes of decomposition, we included measurements after drainage as well. Results revealed the immediate respiration of root exudates in peat, mainly as (Formula presented.), while (Formula presented.) release was associated with a lag time of several days. However, the largest proportion of added root exudates remained in the solid and liquid phase of peat. In conclusion, our findings suggest that no priming occurred as added substrates remained immobile in peat.

Organisation(s)

Department of Geography and Regional Research

External organisation(s)

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Jilin University, University of Vienna

Journal

Diversity

Volume

14

No. of pages

9

ISSN

1424-2818

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090735

Publication date

09-2022

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

105405 Geoecology, 106026 Ecosystem research, 106058 Soil biology, 105906 Environmental geosciences

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecological Modelling, Nature and Landscape Conservation, Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous), Ecology

Portal url

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/d5614089-9c6f-4673-8019-157c3d8e4a43