Drought has short-term effects on soil fungal communities leading to long-term effects on soil functions

作者：S. Emilia Hannula, G. F. Veen · 发表于：Soil Biology and Biochemistry · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.109893 · 被引用次数：12 · 研究领域：Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions、Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases、Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

: Climate change increases the magnitude and length of drought periods. Drought has direct and indirect effects on soil fungi and functions they provide. Here, we conducted a mesocosm experiment with four soil inocula representing gradient in levels of fungal biomass to study effects of drought on soil communities and functions. In a fully factorial design, half of the mesocosms were subjected to severe summer drought while half served as irrigated controls. Fungal biomass and community structure were monitored throughout first year after drought. Concomitantly, soil (multi)functionality was measured by plant yields, number of pests and other organisms, respiration, and decomposition. We show that drought has an direct negative effect on soil fungal biomass and diversity and that the magnitude of the effect depended on the initial community in soils. Furthermore, communities change in response to drought with observed decrease in network connectivity and changes in dominant taxa. While the effect of drought on soil fungal community and biomass gets smaller in time, the functional legacy of the drought remains – potentially due to permanent changes in keystone fungal taxa. Particularly, the effects of drought legacy are apparent as reduction of crop yield in recovery period and slower decomposition rate 6 months after the drought. The effect on yield is however, soil inoculum dependent. Furthermore, the legacy effects of drought on fungal communities in bulk soil are smaller a...