Fig. 1

The main pathways involved in plant–soil feedbacks. Plants predominantly influence belowground communities and soil chemistry through changes in belowground carbon allocation (1) and litter quality and quantity (2). Changes in plant inputs influence belowground communities and soil processes, which in turn influence the plant by changing nutrient availability (3) and by modifying plant interactions with beneficial microbes and pests and pathogens (4). Plant–soil feedbacks represent the net effect of the strength and direction of the combined feedbacks