Plant-soil feedbacks providing economic and environmental benefits

植物与土壤以各种方式相互作用，产生积极和消极的反馈。 例如，一些植物的根可以刺激土壤微生物，这反过来可以导致这些植物的更高的土壤养分可用性和更快的生长速率（即，正反馈）。或者，一些快速生长的植物可能会耗尽土壤养分储备，从而减缓其自身及其邻居的生长速度（即，负反馈）。 我的研究项目致力于了解控制植物-土壤反馈的潜在机制。研究结果可用于提高具有商业价值的作物和木本生物质的产量，并减少一些相关的环境影响。具体来说，在未来五年内，我的研究计划将研究（一）植物和土壤微生物如何竞争养分;（二）植物产生的化学物质如何受到土壤条件的刺激或影响;（三）植物多样性和土壤微生物功能之间的关系;（四）土壤中的温室气体排放。其结果将与可再生资源的管理、生物多样性问题政策的制定以及生产做法认证的指导方针相关和适用。这项研究计划的受益者是加拿大农业和林业的利益相关者，这是我们国民经济的两个主要驱动力，以及具有环保意识的加拿大人。

Plants interact with soil in a variety of ways that result in both positive and negative feedbacks. For example, the roots of some plants may stimulate soil microbes, which in turn can lead to higher soil nutrient availability and faster growth rates for these plants (i.e., positive feedback). Alternatively, some fast-growing plants may deplete soil nutrient reserves, thereby slowing down their own rate of growth and that of their neighbours (i.e., negative feedback). My research program strives to understand the underlying mechanisms controlling plant-soil feedbacks such as these. Results can be exploited to improve the production of commercially-valued crops and woody biomass, as well as to reduce some of the associated environmental impacts. Specifically, over the next five years my research program will study (i) how plants and soil microbes compete for nutrients; (ii) how plant-produced chemicals are stimulated by, or affect, soil conditions; (iii) the relationship between plant diversity and soil microbial functions; (iv) greenhouse gas emissions from soil. Results will be relevant and applicable to the management of renewable resources, to the development of policy on biodiversity issues, and to provide guidelines for the certification of production practices. The beneficiaries of this research program are stakeholders in the Canadian agriculture and forest industries, two major drivers of our national economy, as well as environmentally-conscious Canadians.