Background and aims Solubilisation of poorly available micronutrients in the rhizosphere by root-derived carboxylates is crucial for plant uptake. Citrate and malate are especially important because they can solubilise Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu. We quantified micronutrient solubilisation by citrate and malate at high but realistic rhizosphere concentrations and tested whether citrate—despite its higher metabolic cost—provides greater...

Background and Aims Long-lasting changes in soil biodiversity and chemistry reflecting past land use are commonly found during the conversion between natural and agricultural systems . However, no clear pattern can be seen when rotating crops are established. Most studies focus on arable systems and over short-term rotations, neglecting longer-term tree-crop successions. We hypothesised that converting one long-term tree crop...

Purpose Sustainable management of soil is crucial for terrestrial ecosystems . However, globally it is facing great pressure and challenges due to degradation. Tackling these challenges requires innovative and participatory approaches that integrate scientific knowledge, local practices, and public policy. Living Labs (LLs) can serve as hubs for collaborative innovation in real-world through the connections established between...

Fire events can modify the distribution and speciation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soil, especially if they are associated to organic matter (OM). In fact, OM can undergo substantial structural modifications at high temperatures, up to the complete mineralization. The present study aims to investigate the changes of PTEs’ bioavailability to durum wheat ( Triticum durum Desf.) plants after simulating fire events (up...

Aims The alkaloid hordenine is one of the major allelochemicals involved in the allelopathic ability of barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.), whose biosynthesis and accumulation is preferentially located in roots. Hordenine appears to have been unintentionally favored during domestication in modern and cultivated barley cultivars at the expense of another alkaloid, gramine. In this study, we assessed the content of hordenine and its t...