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Purpose <p>Grass-legume (GLR) polyculture can play a significant role in optimizing plant productivity and provide multiple environmental benefits, yet the specific mechanisms by which GLR influences various grassland ecological processes remain elusive.</p> Methods <p>Here, a 2.5-year field experiment was established to evaluate the effects of GLR polyculture on grassland plant productivity, enzymatic activities, and microbial communities in a cultivated grassland in southern China. Seven GLR mixtures, including (i) 1G0L (1:0, grass monoculture); (ii) 0G1L (1:0, legume monoculture); (iii) 2G1L (2:1, 2 grass: 1 legume); (iv) 1G2L (1:2, 1 grass: 2 legume); (v) 2G3L (2:3, 2 grass: 3 legume); (vi) 1G4L (1:4, 1 grass: 4 legume); and (vii) 2G5L (2:5, 2 grass: 5 legume), were sown in the experimental plots.</p> Results <p>Assessment of both above- and below-ground properties revealed that diversified GLR mixtures significantly improved plant biomass, soil resource acquisition, and other ecological processes compared to monocultures. The significantly highest average aboveground biomass (625.7&#xa0;g m<sup>−2</sup>) was recorded in 2G5L relative to other mixtures. In addition, the diversified 2G5L mixture significantly improved soil and plant nutrient concentrations and their stocks, leading to stoichiometric shifts in soil. The soil total respiration (Rs) rate and extracellular enzymatic activities were significantly increased in the diversified 2G5L mixture. Soil total enzymatic activities (GMEA) and respiration were significantly positively correlated with plant Biomass. Furthermore, we found that 2G5L polyculture significantly increased bacterial richness and diversity (37.7% and 10.8%) and fungal richness and diversity (37.2% and 11.9%) compared to the 1G0L treatment. The microbial community composition was also considerably changed with diversified GLR, which is essential for maintaining ecosystem functions.</p> Conclusion <p>Overall, this study demonstrates that GLR polyculture, particularly 2G5L (2:5), enhances productivity, enzymatic activities, and soil microbial community, thereby reducing the reliance on synthetic fertilizers and promoting eco-friendly grassland management.</p>

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Grass-legume polyculture enhances plant productivity and nutrient availability by modulating soil enzymatic activities and microbial communities in grassland

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月18日

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  • Jawad Ali Shah,
  • Chunyu Yue,
  • Yi Xiong,
  • Na Lin,
  • Jianping Wu

摘要

Purpose

Grass-legume (GLR) polyculture can play a significant role in optimizing plant productivity and provide multiple environmental benefits, yet the specific mechanisms by which GLR influences various grassland ecological processes remain elusive.

Methods

Here, a 2.5-year field experiment was established to evaluate the effects of GLR polyculture on grassland plant productivity, enzymatic activities, and microbial communities in a cultivated grassland in southern China. Seven GLR mixtures, including (i) 1G0L (1:0, grass monoculture); (ii) 0G1L (1:0, legume monoculture); (iii) 2G1L (2:1, 2 grass: 1 legume); (iv) 1G2L (1:2, 1 grass: 2 legume); (v) 2G3L (2:3, 2 grass: 3 legume); (vi) 1G4L (1:4, 1 grass: 4 legume); and (vii) 2G5L (2:5, 2 grass: 5 legume), were sown in the experimental plots.

Results

Assessment of both above- and below-ground properties revealed that diversified GLR mixtures significantly improved plant biomass, soil resource acquisition, and other ecological processes compared to monocultures. The significantly highest average aboveground biomass (625.7 g m−2) was recorded in 2G5L relative to other mixtures. In addition, the diversified 2G5L mixture significantly improved soil and plant nutrient concentrations and their stocks, leading to stoichiometric shifts in soil. The soil total respiration (Rs) rate and extracellular enzymatic activities were significantly increased in the diversified 2G5L mixture. Soil total enzymatic activities (GMEA) and respiration were significantly positively correlated with plant Biomass. Furthermore, we found that 2G5L polyculture significantly increased bacterial richness and diversity (37.7% and 10.8%) and fungal richness and diversity (37.2% and 11.9%) compared to the 1G0L treatment. The microbial community composition was also considerably changed with diversified GLR, which is essential for maintaining ecosystem functions.

Conclusion

Overall, this study demonstrates that GLR polyculture, particularly 2G5L (2:5), enhances productivity, enzymatic activities, and soil microbial community, thereby reducing the reliance on synthetic fertilizers and promoting eco-friendly grassland management.