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

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 delta C-13-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.

Automated summary

In the study of six Eastern U.S. forests, it was found that root-derived carbon accumulation was 54% greater in arbuscular mycorrhizal trees compared to ectomycorrhizal trees; as a result, nearly twice as much root-derived carbon was present in putatively slow-cycling mineral-associated pools in arbuscular mycorrhizal trees compared to ectomycorrhizal trees. The study suggests that variations in root-derived soil carbon accumulation due to tree mycorrhizal dominance may play a key role in controlling soil carbon dynamics in forests.