Nonlinear Rhizosphere Dynamics Yields Synchronized Oscillations of Microbial Populations, Carbon and Oxygen Concentrations, Induced by Root Exudation

Numerical modeling of a system of 4 ordinary differential equations [1] demonstrated synchronized patterns of temporal oscillations of competing microbial populations along with carbon and oxygen concentrations in the rhizosphere, as affected by exudation dynamics and the model kinetic parameters. Using methods of nonlinear dynamics and chaos, we show that the exudation dynamics serve as a driving force for microbial and biogeochemical excitation phenomena, and lead to the development of the emerging phase space structures/attractors and synchronized oscillations of microbial populations and carbon and oxygen concentrations.