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Root‐derived inputs are major contributors to soil carbon in temperate forests, but vary by mycorrhizal type
Author(s) -
Keller Adrienne B.,
Brzostek Edward R.,
Craig Matthew E.,
Fisher Joshua B.,
Phillips Richard P.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.13651
Subject(s) - cycling , ectomycorrhiza , dominance (genetics) , biology , temperate rainforest , soil carbon , carbon cycle , temperate climate , temperate forest , litter , mycorrhiza , botany , ecology , soil water , agronomy , environmental science , ecosystem , symbiosis , forestry , geography , biochemistry , bacteria , gene , genetics
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 δ 13 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.