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Effect of soil spatial configuration on Trifolium repens varies with resource amount

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  • Yi-Wen Pan
  • Zhi-Xia Ying
  • Michael P Nobis
  • Anna M Hersperger
  • Chen Shi
  • Gang Ge

Abstract

Soil spatial heterogeneity involves nutrients being patchily distributed at a range of scales and is prevalent in natural habitats. However, little is known about the effect of soil spatial configurations at the small scale on plant foraging behavior and plant growth under different resource amounts. Here, we experimentally investigated how a stoloniferous species, Trifolium repens, responded to varied resource amounts and spatial configuration combinations. Plant foraging behavior (i.e., the orientation of the primary stolon, mean length of the primary stolon, foraging precision, and foraging scale) and plant growth (i.e., total biomass, root biomass, shoot biomass, and root/shoot) were compared among differently designed configurations of soil resources in different amounts. The relationships of foraging behavior and plant biomass were analyzed. The results showed that the effect of the spatial configuration of soil resources on Trifolium repens depended on the resource amount. Specifically, when the total resource amount was low, fragmented soil patches promoted root foraging and increased Trifolium repens plant biomass; however, when the total resource amount was high, the soil spatial configuration did not affect foraging behavior or plant growth. Our results also showed that plant growth was facilitated by root foraging scale to adapt to low resource amounts. We conclude that the spatial configuration of soil resources at small scales affects whole plant growth, which is mediated by a distinct foraging strategy. These findings contribute to a better understanding of how the growth strategy of clonal plants responds to heterogeneous environments caused by different resource amounts and its spatial configurations.

Suggested Citation

  • Yi-Wen Pan & Zhi-Xia Ying & Michael P Nobis & Anna M Hersperger & Chen Shi & Gang Ge, 2022. "Effect of soil spatial configuration on Trifolium repens varies with resource amount," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(1), pages 1-11, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0263290
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263290
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhengwen Wang & Mark van Kleunen & Heinjo J During & Marinus J A Werger, 2013. "Root Foraging Increases Performance of the Clonal Plant Potentilla reptans in Heterogeneous Nutrient Environments," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(3), pages 1-8, March.
    2. Xiu-Fang Xie & Yao-Bin Song & Ya-Lin Zhang & Xu Pan & Ming Dong, 2014. "Phylogenetic Meta-Analysis of the Functional Traits of Clonal Plants Foraging in Changing Environments," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(9), pages 1-8, September.
    3. Philipe Louâpre & Anne-Kristel Bittebière & Bernard Clément & Jean-Sébastien Pierre & Cendrine Mony, 2012. "How Past and Present Influence the Foraging of Clonal Plants?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(6), pages 1-8, June.
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    1. Zhengwen Wang & Mark van Kleunen & Heinjo J During & Marinus J A Werger, 2013. "Root Foraging Increases Performance of the Clonal Plant Potentilla reptans in Heterogeneous Nutrient Environments," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(3), pages 1-8, March.

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