Plant productivity often increases with species richness, but the mechanisms explaining this diversity–productivity relationship are not fully understood. We tested if plant–soil feedbacks (PSF) can help to explain how biomass production changes with species richness. Using a greenhouse experiment, we measured all 240 possible PSFs for 16 plant species. At the same time, 49 plant communities with diversities ranging from one to 16 species were grown in replicated pots. A suite of plant community growth models, parameterized with (PSF) or without PSF (Null) effects, was used to predict plant growth observed in the communities. Selection effects and complementarity effects in modeled and observed data were separated. Plants created soils that increased or decreased subsequent plant growth by 25%
- Award ID(s):
- 2021898
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10332602
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
- Volume:
- 288
- Issue:
- 1958
- ISSN:
- 0962-8452
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 20211290
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2021.1290
