Secondary soil salinization in urban lawns: Microbial functioning, vegetation state, and implications for carbon balance

• DOI: 10.1002/ldr.3627
• Publication Date: 2020-05-12T07:40:16Z
• Authors: Olga Gavrichkova; Ramilla A. Brykova; Enrico Brugnoli; Carlo Calfapietra; Zhongqi Cheng; Yakov Kuzyakov; Dario Liberati; Maria Cristina Mo...; Emanuele Pallozzi; Viacheslav I. Vas...
• Keywords: Lawn; Soil respiration; Soil carbon; Mesocosm

Abstract Deicing agents cause soil salinization and degradation in urban areas. We assessed the capacity of lawns to maintain carbon sequestration nutrient cycling with increasing salinity. The sensitivity salinity main ecosystem players: plants microorganisms were considering their complex interactions between each other environment. effects low moderate by common deicing agent (NaCl) evaluated mesocosms planted two lawns: Lolium perenne mixture grasses. Mesocosm‐, plant‐, soil‐level gas exchange on a short‐term (days) long‐term (months) scales. Microbial response was characterized analyzing microbial properties activities nine enzymes. Carbon balance remained independent due cancelling effect lowered gross primary production (GPP, −20%), decreased C input into (−40% for mixture) balanced slower decomposition organic matter (−20%) so, lower respiration (−35%). GPP declined as combination stomatal constraint photosynthesis leaf increase. Toxic observed only temperatures above 15°C. community high C:N ratio (common fungi) most sensitive salinization. death biomass (−31% ) cell lysis increased enzyme (+38% ). conclude that remain homeostatic at secondary Temperature plant‐microbial will determine nutrients under stress lawns.