Nitrogen leaching and ectomycorrhizal nitrogen retention capacity in a Norway spruce forest fertilized with nitrogen and phosphorus

Summary, in English

To estimate the production of external ectomycorrhizal mycelia (EMM) in Norway spruce forests with varying nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels, and to relate this to the N retention capacity of ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) and N leaching. Seasonal changes in EMF production (in ingrowth mesh bags) and soil water N (in suction lysimeters) were analyzed after fertilization with N or N combined with P. The EMF N retention capacity was estimated by the addition of isotopically labeled N to the mesh bags. No relationship was found between the seasonal variation in EMF growth and N leakage from the soil. However, in the mesh bags, the total assimilation of N-15 by EMF was almost halved by N fertilization, while twice as much N-15 leached through. We found a high specific N assimilation capacity per unit weight of EMF mycelia. This was unaffected by N fertilization, but the total assimilation of N by EMF was drastically reduced due to reduced production of EMM. However, N-retaining processes other than N assimilation by EMF must be taken into account to explain the losses of N after fertilization.

• Author: Adam Bahr; Magnus Ellström; Johan Bergh; Håkan Wallander
• Department/s: MEMEG; Microbial Ecology; BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate
• Publishing year: 2015
• Language: English
• Pages: 323-335
• Publication/Series: Plant and Soil
• Volume: 390
• Issue: 1-2
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2408-6
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Springer
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Keywords: leaching; Nitrogen retention; Phosphorus; Ectomycorrhiza; Nitrogen; Mycelium; Norway spruce
• Status: Published
• Project: MICCS - Molecular Interactions Controlling soil Carbon Sequestration
• Research group: Microbial Ecology
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 0032-079X