Abstract

There is growing appreciation for the idea that plant-soil interactions (e.g. allelopathy and plant-microbe feedbacks) may explain the success of some non-native plants. Where this is the case, native plant restoration may require management tools that change plant-soil interactions. Activated carbon (AC) is one such potential tool. Previous research has shown the potential for high concentrations of AC to restore native plant growth to areas dominated by non-natives on a small scale (1 m × 1 m plots). Here we (i) test the efficacy of different AC concentrations at a larger scale (15 m × 15 m plots), (ii) measure microbial responses to AC treatment and (iii) use a greenhouse experiment to identify the primary mechanism, allelopathy versus microbial changes, through which AC impacts native and non-native plant growth. Three years after large-scale applications, AC treatments decreased non-native plant cover and increased the ratio of native to non-native species cover, particularly at concentrations >400 g m(-2). Activated carbon similarly decreased non-native plant growth in the greenhouse. This effect, however, was only observed in live soils, suggesting that AC effects were microbially mediated and not caused by direct allelopathy. Bacterial community analysis of field soils indicated that AC increased the relative abundance of an unidentified bacterium and an Actinomycetales and decreased the relative abundance of a Flavobacterium, suggesting that these organisms may play a role in AC effects on plant growth. Results support the idea that manipulations of plant-microbe interactions may provide novel and effective ways of directing plant growth and community development (e.g. native plant restoration).

Highlights

  • Abandoned agricultural lands are growing worldwide and have long-term soil legacies that are highly susceptible to invasion by dense, persistent non-native species (Cramer et al 2008; Kulmatiski & Beard 2008)

  • Complete control (CC) plots differed from seed treated plots (AC applied at both 0 g/m2 and 1000 g/m2) for desirable percent cover, undesirable percent cover, and desirable:undesirable ratio (F2,712 = 121.63, p = 0.0001, F2,712 = 125.84, p = 0.0001, F2,712 = 125.84, p = 0.0001, respectively)

  • Desirable species percent cover was lower in complete” control (CC) plots than seed addition plots with 0 g/m2 and 1000 g/m2 Activated carbon (AC) treatments, while 0 g/m2 and 1000 g/m2 AC did not significantly differ (Fig. 2b)

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Summary

Introduction

Abandoned agricultural lands are growing worldwide and have long-term soil legacies that are highly susceptible to invasion by dense, persistent non-native species (Cramer et al 2008; Kulmatiski & Beard 2008). These soil legacies can last decades and may encourage the growth of some plants (i.e., non-native) relative to other (i.e., native) plants. By identifying and targeting the mechanisms used by non-native species to change soils and decrease native plant growth, it may be possible to control non-native plants and restore native communities in these disturbed sites (Levine et al 2003)

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