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Plant Sciences Commons

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Biology

University of Kentucky

BEF

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Full-Text Articles in Plant Sciences

Rhizobacterial Species Richness Improves Sorghum Growth And Soil Nutrient Synergism In A Nutrient-Poor Greenhouse Soil, Mohammad Radhi Sahib, Zahida H. Pervaiz, Mark A. Williams, Muhammad Saleem, Seth Debolt Sep 2020

Rhizobacterial Species Richness Improves Sorghum Growth And Soil Nutrient Synergism In A Nutrient-Poor Greenhouse Soil, Mohammad Radhi Sahib, Zahida H. Pervaiz, Mark A. Williams, Muhammad Saleem, Seth Debolt

Horticulture Faculty Publications

Although microbes influence plant growth, little is known about the impact of microbial diversity on plant fitness trade-offs, intraspecific-interactions, and soil nutrient dynamics in the context of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) research. The BEF theory states that higher species richness can enhance ecosystem functioning. Thus, we hypothesize that rhizobacterial species richness will alter sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) growth, soil nutrient dynamics and interactions (antagonism or synergism) in a nutrient-poor greenhouse soil. Using six rhizobacterial species in a BEF experiment, we tested the impact of a species richness gradient (0, 1, 3, 5 or 6 species per community) on plant growth, …