Reciprocal transfer of carbon and nitrogen by decomposer fungi at the soil–litter interface
Abstract
We have investigated whether decomposer fungi translocate litter-derived C into the underlying soil while simultaneously translocating soil-derived inorganic N up into the litter layer. We also located and quantified where the translocated C is deposited within the soil aggregate structure. When 13C-labeled wheat straw was decomposed on the surface of soil amended with 15N-labeled inorganic N, we found that C and N were reciprocally transferred by fungi, with a significant quantity (121–151 μg C g−1 whole soil) of litter-derived C being deposited into newly formed macroaggregates (>250 μm sized aggregates). Fungal inhibition reduced fungal biomass and the bidirectional C and N flux by approximately 50%. The amount of litter-derived C found in macroaggregates was positively correlated with litter-associated fungal biomass. This fungal-mediated litter-to-soil C transfer, which to our knowledge has not been demonstrated before for saprophytic fungi, may represent an important mechanism by which litter C enters the soil and becomes stabilized as soil organic matter within the macroaggregate structure.
Department
Soil Biogeochemistry and Microbial Ecology
Publication Date
5-14-2003
Journal Title
Soil Biology and Biochemistry
Publisher
Elsevier
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
S.D. Frey, J. Six, E.T. Elliott, Reciprocal transfer of carbon and nitrogen by decomposer fungi at the soil–litter interface, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Volume 35, Issue 7, 2003, Pages 1001-1004, ISSN 0038-0717, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-0717(03)00155-X.
Rights
© 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.