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Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduce nitrous oxide emissions from N 2 O hotspots
Author(s) -
Storer Kate,
Coggan Aisha,
Ineson Phil,
Hodge Angela
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.14931
Subject(s) - hypha , nitrous oxide , ammonium , microcosm , symbiosis , nitrogen , nitrification , nitrate , chemistry , soil water , mycorrhiza , ammonium nitrate , arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi , environmental chemistry , agronomy , biology , botany , horticulture , ecology , inoculation , bacteria , genetics , organic chemistry
Summary Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is a potent, globally important, greenhouse gas, predominantly released from agricultural soils during nitrogen (N) cycling. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi ( AMF ) form a mutualistic symbiosis with two‐thirds of land plants, providing phosphorus and/or N in exchange for carbon. As AMF acquire N, it was hypothesized that AMF hyphae may reduce N 2 O production. AMF hyphae were either allowed ( AMF ) or prevented (non AMF ) access to a compartment containing an organic matter and soil patch in two independent microcosm experiments. Compartment and patch N 2 O production was measured both before and after addition of ammonium and nitrate. In both experiments, N 2 O production decreased when AMF hyphae were present before inorganic N addition. In the presence of AMF hyphae, N 2 O production remained low following ammonium application, but increased in the non AMF controls. By contrast, negligible N 2 O was produced following nitrate application to either AMF treatment. Thus, the main N 2 O source in this system appeared to be via nitrification, and the production of N 2 O was reduced in the presence of AMF hyphae. It is hypothesized that AMF hyphae may be outcompeting slow‐growing nitrifiers for ammonium. This has significant global implications for our understanding of soil N cycling pathways and N 2 O production.