@article{fdi:010074017,
  title = {{R}oot penetration in deep soil layers stimulates mineralization of millennia-old organic carbon},
  author = {{S}hahzad, {T}. and {R}ashid, {M}. {I}. and {M}aire, {V}. and {B}arot, {S}{\'e}bastien and {P}erveen, {N}. and {A}lvarez, {G}. and {M}ougin, {C}. and {F}ontaine, {S}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{C}limate and land-use changes modify plant rooting depth, signifying that organic matter with long residence times in deep soil layers can be exposed to rhizospheres and associated microbial activities. {T}he presence of roots in soils stimulates mineralization of native soil {C}, via a process termed the rhizosphere priming effect ({RPE}), which may in consequence lead to loss of soil {C}. {B}y growing a deep rooting grass, {F}estuca arundinacea, on soil columns and under continuous dual labelling ({C}-13- & {C}-14-{CO}2), we show that root penetration up to 80 cm into a soil profile stimulated mineralization of similar to 15,000 year-old soil {C}. {T}he {RPE}, after normalization with root bio-mass, was similar along the soil profile indicating that deep {C} is as vulnerable to priming as surface {C}. {T}he {RPE} was strongly correlated with respiration of plant-derived {C}, and a {PLFA} marker representative of saprophytic fungi (18:2 omega 6c) across all soil layers. {M}oreover, experimental disruption of soil structure further stimulated soil {C} mineralization. {T}hese findings suggest that the slow soil {C} mineralization in deep layers results from an impoverishment of energy-rich plant {C} for microorganisms (especially for saprophytic fungi), combined with a physical disconnection between soil {C} and microorganisms. {B}ased on our results, we anticipate higher mineralization rates of deep millennia-old {SOM} in response to deeper root penetration which could be induced by changes in agricultural practices and climate.},
  keywords = {{D}eep soil carbon ; {R}hizosphere priming effect ; {C}-14 dating ; {C}-13 labelling ; {M}icrobial community structure ; {M}icrobial energy limitation ; {S}oil {C} persistence ; {FRANCE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{S}oil {B}iology and {B}iochemistry},
  volume = {124},
  numero = {},
  pages = {150--160},
  ISSN = {0038-0717},
  year = {2018},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.soilbio.2018.06.010},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010074017},
}