Compost may affect volatile and semi-volatile plant emissions through nitrogen supply and chlorophyll fluorescence.
The use of composted biosolids as an amendment for forest regeneration in degraded ecosystems is growing since sewage-sludge dumping has been banned in the European Community. Its consequences on plant terpenes are however unknown. Terpene emissions of both Rosmarinus officinalis (a terpene-storing species) and Quercus coccifera (a non-storing species) and terpene content of the former, were studied after a middle-term exposure to compost at intermediate (50tha(-1): D50) and high (100tha(-1): D100) compost rates, in a seven-year-old post-fire shrubland ecosystem. Some chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (Fv/Fm, ETR, Phi(PSII)), soil and plant enrichment in phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) were monitored simultaneously in amended and non-amended plots in order to establish what factors were responsible for possible compost effect on terpenes. Compost affected all studied parameters with the exception of Fv/Fm and terpene content. For both species, mono- and sesquiterpene basal emissions were intensified solely under D50 plots. On the contrary leaf P, leaf N levels reached in D50 were partly responsible of terpene changes, suggesting that optimal N conditions occurred therein. N also affected ETR and Phi(PSII) which were, in turn, robustly correlated to terpene emissions. These results imply that emissions of terpene-storing and non-storing species were under nitrogen and chlorophyll fluorescence control, and that a correct management of compost rates applied on soil may modify terpene emission rate of plants, which in turn has consequences in air quality and plant defense mechanisms.
Ormeño
Elena
E
Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, Berkeley University of California, 94720, USA.
Olivier
Romain
R
Mévy
Jean Philippe
JP
Baldy
Virginie
V
Fernandez
Catherine
C
D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism*; D005453:Fluorescence; D008027:Light; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D029963:Quercus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D027542:Rosmarinus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012987:Soil; D013729:Terpenes / Q000378:metabolism; D014835:Volatilization
D012987:Soil; D013729:Terpenes; D002734:Chlorophyll; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen