Root-derived inputs are major contributors to soil carbon in temperate forests, but vary by mycorrhizal type

© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd..

Roots promote the formation of slow-cycling soil carbon (C), yet we have a limited understanding of the magnitude and controls on this flux. We hypothesised arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM)- and ectomycorrhizal (ECM)-associated trees would exhibit differences in root-derived C accumulation in the soil, and that much of this C would be transferred into mineral-associated pools. We installed δ13 C-enriched ingrowth cores across mycorrhizal gradients in six Eastern U.S. forests (n = 54 plots). Overall, root-derived C was 54% greater in AM versus ECM-dominated plots. This resulted in nearly twice as much root-derived C in putatively slow-cycling mineral-associated pools in AM compared to ECM plots. Given that our estimates of root-derived inputs were often equal to or greater than leaf litter inputs, our results suggest that variation in root-derived soil C accumulation due to tree mycorrhizal dominance may be a key control of soil C dynamics in forests.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Erschienen:

2021

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:24

Enthalten in:

Ecology letters - 24(2021), 4 vom: 05. Apr., Seite 626-635

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Keller, Adrienne B [VerfasserIn]
Brzostek, Edward R [VerfasserIn]
Craig, Matthew E [VerfasserIn]
Fisher, Joshua B [VerfasserIn]
Phillips, Richard P [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

7440-44-0
Belowground carbon allocation
Carbon
Letter
Mycorrhizal association
N762921K75
Nitrogen
Rhizodeposition
Root exudation
Soil

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 18.03.2021

Date Revised 18.03.2021

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1111/ele.13651

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM320548414