Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mitigate soil nitrogen and phosphorus losses: A meta-analysis

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 807; no. Pt 1; p. 150857
• Main Authors: Qiu, Qingyan, Bender, S. Franz, Mgelwa, Abubakari Said, Hu, Yalin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 10.02.2022
• Subjects: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; Carbon; Ecosystem; Fungi; Humans; meta-analysis; Mycorrhizae - chemistry; Nitrogen; Nitrogen - analysis; Nitrous oxide; Nutrient losses; Phosphorus; Plant Roots - chemistry; Soil; Soil Microbiology; meta-analysis; Phosphorus; Nitrous oxide; Nutrient losses; Nitrogen; Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150857

Nutrient loss from terrestrial ecosystems via leaching and gaseous emissions is increasingly threatening global environmental and human health. Although arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been shown to regulate soil N and P losses, a comprehensive quantitative overview of their influences on the losses of these soil nutrients across global scales is currently lacking. This study used a meta-analysis of 322 observations from 36 studies to assess the effect of AMF inoculum on 11 variables related to the loss of soil N and P. We found that the presence of AMF significantly reduced soil N and P losses, with the most pronounced reduction occurring in soil NO3−-N (−32%), followed by total P (−21%), available P (−16%) and N2O (−10%). However, the mitigation effects of AMF on soil N and P loss were dependent on the identity of AMF inoculum, plant type and soil biotic and abiotic factors. Generally, the mitigation effects of AMF increased with increasing AMF root colonization rate, microbial diversity of inoculants, soil organic carbon (SOC) content and experimental duration as well as with decreasing soil sand contents and soil N and P availability. Overall, this meta-analysis highlights the importance of AMF inoculation in mitigating N and P nutrient loss and environmental pollution for terrestrial ecosystem sustainability. [Display omitted] •The effect of AMF inoculum on soil N and P loss was investigated by meta-analysis.•AMF decreased soil NO3−-N and TP losses by 32% and 21%, respectively.•AMF caused a 10% decrease in soil N2O fluxes.•The mitigation effects of AMF increased with increasing AMF root colonization rate.•The mitigation effects of AMF decreased with increasing soil N and P availability.