Root fungi key to soil carbon

摘要

Ecosystems differ in the type of plant-associated mycorrhizal fungi (root symbionts associated with most land plants) that dominates them. Ectomycorrhizal and ericoid mycorrhizal (EEM) fungi make nitrogen-degrading enzymes, but arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi do not, leading to a prediction that plants in EEM ecosystems will compete with decomposers for soil nitrogen and increase soil carbon storage. Colin Averill et al. use global data sets to confirm that this is the case, with 70% more carbon storage in EEM ecosystems than in those dominated by arbuscular mycorrhiza. The authors find that mycorrhizal type is more important than other determinants of soil carbon storage.