Mycorrhizal type affects forest nitrogen availability, independent of organic matter quality

Forest mycorrhizal type is getting more attention as a potentially significant factor controlling carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) forests are frequently reported to have lower N availability and higher soil C storage than arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) forests. However, it is still unclear whether such characteristics stem from the low organic matter quality inherent in the ECM forest or other biotic and abiotic factors, such as competition for N between ECM fungi and free-living microbes. We conducted soil and litter reciprocal transplant experiments between AM-symbiotic black locust and ECM-symbiotic oak forests to separate the effects of organic matter quality and forest type (i.e., factors including ECM fungal presence and soil physicochemical properties) on decomposition rates and N availability. We hypothesized that the forest type, rather than organic matter quality, is a more determinant factor for available N content but not organic matter decomposition rate. Forest type had a more substantial effect not only on nitrate content but also on decomposition rate than organic matter quality. Since the litter decomposition rate was higher when placed in the oak forest, the higher soil C accumulation in the oak than in the black locust forests may be caused by greater C input rather than the slower decomposition in the oak than black locust forest. In addition, nitrate content was determined by forest type, suggesting the suppression of nitrate content by ECM fungal presence. This study suggests that the forest type with different mycorrhizal associations can affect biogeochemical cycling independent of organic matter quality.

Automated summary

Forest mycorrhizal type is an important factor controlling carbon and nitrogen cycling. Ectomycorrhizal forests generally have lower nitrogen availability and higher soil carbon storage compared to arbuscular mycorrhizal forests. This study finds that forest type has a larger impact on decomposition rates and nitrogen availability than organic matter quality.