Contrasting rhizosphere soil nutrient economy of plants associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi in karst forests

Plants growing in the soils of karst forests associate with arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) or ectomycorrhizae (ECM) to acquire nutrients. We researched how these different mycorrhizal associations affect rhizosphere soil nutrient economy calcareous soils. Bulk and were sampled beneath 25 AM 9 ECM plants primary at Puding Karst Critical Zone Observatory. Nutrient contents potential enzyme activities analyzed test effect types association on nitrogen (N) phosphorus (P) economies. The nitrate-N available-P markedly lower rhizospheres compared plants. Ectomycorrhizal promoted relatively greater investment N-acquisition enzymes, contrast, caused P-acquisition enzymes. decreased pH likely P availability. Our results revealed that form contrasting have fundamentally effects rhizospheric economies low fertility southwest China. Differentiation N- capacity implications for species coexistence high levels plant biodiversity observed forests.