Plant species specific effects of root exudates on the stabilization of soil organic matter

The aim is to test how root exudates of different plant species affect soil microbial respiration and pools of particulate organic matter (POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM), and how drought alters this effect. We grew three grassland plant species, Lolium perenne, Ranunculus acris, and Trifolium pratense, under well-watered (Control) and drought conditions (Drought), after which we collected their exudates, and repeatedly added these to an unconditioned soil to assess their impact on soil respiration, SOM pools, and soil microbial communities.