Fig. 5.

Concentrations of (a) total PLFAs and marker PLFAs for (b) fungi, (c) Gram-positive bacteria and (d) Gram-negative bacteria in bulk soil (open bars) and rhizosphere soil (black bars) of control plots and girdling plots. Significant differences (p < 0.05) between rhizosphere and bulk soil are indicated by different letters. Significance of differences between control plots and girdling plots for bulk soil and rhizosphere soil, respectively, is indicated by ∗∗ (p < 0.01), +(p < 0.1) or n.s. (not significant). Error bars represent standard errors (n = 6).