Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization consistently favor pathogenic over mutualistic fungi in grassland soils

Ylva Lekberg (), Carlos A. Arnillas, Elizabeth T. Borer, Lorinda S. Bullington, Noah Fierer, Peter G. Kennedy, Jonathan W. Leff, Angela D. Luis, Eric W. Seabloom and Jeremiah A. Henning
Additional contact information
Ylva Lekberg: MPG Ranch
Carlos A. Arnillas: University of Toronto – Scarborough
Elizabeth T. Borer: University of Minnesota
Lorinda S. Bullington: MPG Ranch
Noah Fierer: University of Colorado
Peter G. Kennedy: University of Minnesota
Jonathan W. Leff: Independent Researcher
Angela D. Luis: University of Montana
Eric W. Seabloom: University of Minnesota
Jeremiah A. Henning: University of Minnesota

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Ecosystems across the globe receive elevated inputs of nutrients, but the consequences of this for soil fungal guilds that mediate key ecosystem functions remain unclear. We find that nitrogen and phosphorus addition to 25 grasslands distributed across four continents promotes the relative abundance of fungal pathogens, suppresses mutualists, but does not affect saprotrophs. Structural equation models suggest that responses are often indirect and primarily mediated by nutrient-induced shifts in plant communities. Nutrient addition also reduces co-occurrences within and among fungal guilds, which could have important consequences for belowground interactions. Focusing only on plots that received no nutrient addition, soil properties influence pathogen abundance globally, whereas plant community characteristics influence mutualists, and climate influence saprotrophs. We show consistent, guild-level responses that enhance our ability to predict shifts in soil function related to anthropogenic eutrophication, which can have longer-term consequences for plant communities.

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23605-y

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23605-y

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