Contrasting effects of nitrogen availability on plant carbon supply to mycorrhizal fungi and saprotrophs - a hypothesis based on field observations in boreal forest
Högberg, Mona N. ; Bååth, Erland LU ; Nordgren, Anders ; Arnebrant, Kristina LU
and Högberg, Peter
(2003)
In New Phytologist
160(1).
p.225-238
- Abstract
- Soil microorganisms are considered C-limited, while plant productivity is frequently N-limited. Large stores of organic C in boreal forest soils are attributed to negative effects of low temperature, soil acidity and plant residue recalcitrance upon microbial activity.
We examined microbial activity, biomass and community composition along a natural 90-m-long soil N supply gradient, where plant species composition varies profoundly, forest productivity three-fold and soil pH by three units.
There was, however, no significant variation in soil respiration in the field across the gradient. Neither did microbial biomass C determined by fumigation-extraction vary, while other estimates of activity and biomass showed a weak... (More) - Soil microorganisms are considered C-limited, while plant productivity is frequently N-limited. Large stores of organic C in boreal forest soils are attributed to negative effects of low temperature, soil acidity and plant residue recalcitrance upon microbial activity.
We examined microbial activity, biomass and community composition along a natural 90-m-long soil N supply gradient, where plant species composition varies profoundly, forest productivity three-fold and soil pH by three units.
There was, however, no significant variation in soil respiration in the field across the gradient. Neither did microbial biomass C determined by fumigation-extraction vary, while other estimates of activity and biomass showed a weak increase with increasing N supply and soil pH. Simultaneously, a phospholipid fatty acid attributed mainly to mycorrhizal fungi declined drastically, while bacterial biomass increased.
We hypothesize that low N supply and plant productivity, and hence low litter C supply to saprotrophs is associated with a high plant C supply to mycorrhizal fungi, while the reverse occurs under high N supply. This should mean that effects of N availability on C supply to these functional groups of microbes acts in opposing directions. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/132888
- author
- Högberg, Mona N.
; Bååth, Erland
LU
; Nordgren, Anders
; Arnebrant, Kristina
LU
and Högberg, Peter
- organization
- publishing date
- 2003
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- New Phytologist
- volume
- 160
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 225 - 238
- publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000185557300025
- scopus:0141795442
- ISSN
- 1469-8137
- DOI
- 10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00867.x
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- a4c08df7-5b32-443d-a5bf-650fa0744ac4 (old id 132888)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 12:25:14
- date last changed
- 2025-10-14 13:20:47
@article{a4c08df7-5b32-443d-a5bf-650fa0744ac4,
abstract = {{Soil microorganisms are considered C-limited, while plant productivity is frequently N-limited. Large stores of organic C in boreal forest soils are attributed to negative effects of low temperature, soil acidity and plant residue recalcitrance upon microbial activity.<br/><br>
We examined microbial activity, biomass and community composition along a natural 90-m-long soil N supply gradient, where plant species composition varies profoundly, forest productivity three-fold and soil pH by three units.<br/><br>
There was, however, no significant variation in soil respiration in the field across the gradient. Neither did microbial biomass C determined by fumigation-extraction vary, while other estimates of activity and biomass showed a weak increase with increasing N supply and soil pH. Simultaneously, a phospholipid fatty acid attributed mainly to mycorrhizal fungi declined drastically, while bacterial biomass increased.<br/><br>
We hypothesize that low N supply and plant productivity, and hence low litter C supply to saprotrophs is associated with a high plant C supply to mycorrhizal fungi, while the reverse occurs under high N supply. This should mean that effects of N availability on C supply to these functional groups of microbes acts in opposing directions.}},
author = {{Högberg, Mona N. and Bååth, Erland and Nordgren, Anders and Arnebrant, Kristina and Högberg, Peter}},
issn = {{1469-8137}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{225--238}},
publisher = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
series = {{New Phytologist}},
title = {{Contrasting effects of nitrogen availability on plant carbon supply to mycorrhizal fungi and saprotrophs - a hypothesis based on field observations in boreal forest}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/2915892/624335.pdf}},
doi = {{10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00867.x}},
volume = {{160}},
year = {{2003}},
}