Citation
15N in symbiotic fungi and plants estimates nitrogen and carbon flux rates in Arctic tundra
TL;DR
50-80% of tree nitrogen comes directly from mycorrhizal fungal partners
This research using isotope tracers demonstrated that 50-80% of nitrogen in temperate forest trees comes directly from mycorrhizal decomposition rather than from soil nitrate. This tight coupling between decomposition and acquisition represents the most efficient nutrient cycling system in nature.
For organizations, this suggests the value of direct pipelines between failure decomposition and new initiative development - rather than letting extracted value sit in general resource pools where it may leak to competitors or be lost.
Key Findings from Hobbie & Hobbie (2006)
- 50-80% of tree nitrogen comes directly from mycorrhizal fungal partners
- Mycorrhizal fungi outcompete free-living bacteria for decomposition products
- Direct fungal pipelines minimize nutrient loss between decomposition and plant uptake