Research Alba Llovet Martin

Abstract

Under the current climate change scenario, enhancing soil carbon (C) sequestration is a key mitigation strategy. Grasslands play a major role, storing about one-third of global terrestrial C, with up to 60% of net primary productivity allocated belowground. However, different management practices impact resource allocation and soil C storage. Species-enriched grasslands often store more soil organic carbon (SOC) than less diverse systems, but the mechanisms linking plant diversity, root traits, and microbial communities to SOC sequestration remain unclear. Scientific debate focuses on whether root chemical traits or soil organic matter changes are the primary drivers of C stabilization. The IRHIS project aims to bridge these perspectives using a trait-based approach that examines root biotic, physiological, chemical, and morphological traits alongside soil organic matter fractions. The project's goal is to understand how sown forage diversity influences yield, root, and soil properties, and the interactions between above- and belowground components in Mediterranean forage systems. The central hypothesis is that increased plant diversity enhances belowground inputs (root biomass, exudates), stimulating a more active and abundant microbial community. This could boost microbial necromass production and byproducts, leading to greater soil C storage and potential productivity gains.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Verbruggen Erik
• Fellow: Llovet Martin Alba

Research team(s)

• Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) - Ecology in a time of change

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Under the current climate change scenario, unlocking the carbon (C)-sequestering potential of soils has been identified as a key mitigation strategy. In this context, grasslands constitute a large reservoir of soil C, storing ca. one-third of the global terrestrial C stocks with belowground allocation of net primary productivity reaching values up to 60%. However, different management schemes could lead to varied resource allocation and utilisation. Notably, species-enriched grasslands have been found to store more soil organic C (SOC) than their more depauperate counterparts. Nevertheless, the question remains open as to how the complete link among plant diversity, root traits and microbial communities underpins soil C sequestration. The controversy mainly stems from the alternative views posed by plant and soil scientists, focusing, respectively, on root chemical traits and soil organic matter chemical changes. IRHIS will reconcile, building on results from a biodiversity-ecosystem function experiment (LegacyNet), these two frameworks by using a trait-based approach covering root biotic, physiological, chemical and morphological traits as well as soil organic matter fractions. Our overall goal is to advance our understanding of the effects of sown forage diversity on yield and soil and root properties, and how both ecosystem compartments (above- and belowground) interact in a forage crop system under Mediterranean conditions. The general hypothesis is that sown diversity alters the quantity and quality of inputs to the belowground compartment (root biomass, exudates), which in turn results in a more active/efficient and more abundant microbial community, thus also steering microbial necromass and associated by-products. Ultimately this could result in a high C accrual and, plausibly, concomitant productivity gains.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Verbruggen Erik
• Fellow: Llovet Martin Alba

Research team(s)

• Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) - Ecology in a time of change

Project type(s)

• Research Project