Abstract
Effects of plant-induced changes in soil properties, which impact subsequent plant growth, have received increasing attention in plant ecology (e.g., Smith-Ramesh & Reynolds 2017). These plant-soil feedbacks (PSFs) are considered to be important for plant performance and plant-community composition in many terrestrial ecosystems (e.g., van der Putten et al. 2013). However, so far most conclusions on the importance of PSFs in natural systems have been drawn from experiments performed under highly controlled and artificial conditions. Under natural conditions, the growth and development of plants as well as that of soil organisms is influenced by many more abiotic and biotic interactions than in the greenhouse. Hence, there is an urgent need to investigate PSFs under more natural conditions and to better understand the interactions between PSFs and environmental drivers (De Long et al. 2019). This Research Topic comprises 14 articles - ranging from Original research articles, meta-analytical Reviews and Perspectives - that aim to advance our understanding of the contribution of PSFs to plant growth and plant community composition in different environmental contexts.
Highlights
Specialty section: This article was submitted to Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
They present additional empirical evidence that plant-soil feedbacks (PSFs) differ between greenhouse and field conditions, highlighting the need to consider effects of environmental conditions in PSF research
Bennett et al investigated an important biotic factor—aboveground herbivory—that was reported to affect PSFs (e.g., Bezemer et al, 2013; Heinze and Joshi, 2018; Heinze et al, 2019). They found that simulated aboveground herbivory changed PSFs in native and non-native plants when grown in a competitive mixture
Summary
Specialty section: This article was submitted to Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. (2020) Editorial: The Step: Disentangling the Role of Plant-Soil Feedbacks in Plant Performance and Species Coexistence Under Natural Conditions. The growth and development of plants as well as that of soil organisms is influenced by many more abiotic and biotic interactions than in the greenhouse.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
