Plant legacies and soil microbial community dynamics control soil carbon flux

We conducted a greenhouse experiment to investigate the legacy effects of two species of C3 grass, one native to tallgrass prairie and the other an exotic species generally considered to be invasive. In addition to characterizing potential legacy effects on plant performance, soil C fluxes, and soil communities, we tested two predictions: 1) The magnitude of SOM decomposition will be affected by plant-soil feedbacks (i.e., positive plant-soil feedbacks will increase SOM decomposition). 2) Plant-mediated changes to soil chemistry and the soil microbial community may persist after their removal which potentially may influence the magnitude of SOM decomposition