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Background and aims <p>Mycorrhizal fungi enhance plant nutrient uptake from the soil. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) tree species have distinct fast-slow nutrient economies, but how their nutrient acquisition strategies change in monocultures versus mixtures remains unclear. Thus, we examined root growth and trait variations, nutrient uptake, and land use efficiency in monoculture/mixed stands of the two mycorrhizal tree types under different nutrient environments.</p> Methods <p>In a nutrient-poor coal gangue area, AM <i>Broussonetia papyrifera</i> and ECM <i>Pinus tabulaeformis</i> were planted in monoculture/mixed stands under four nutrient regimes: unfertilized control, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and combined N and P fertilization. We measured root traits, root length and biomass, leaf N and P accumulation, soil carbon (C), N, and P nutrients, and enzyme activities.</p> Results <p>In mixtures, <i>B. papyrifera</i> increased root length and biomass (nutrient-foraging strategy), while <i>P. tabulaeformis</i> increased root exudation (nutrient-mining strategy) but reduced root length, biomass, and respiration rate. Mixed stands contained higher soil nutrients and β-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity compared to <i>P. tabulaeformis</i> monoculture, and surpassed <i>B. papyrifera</i> monoculture in total N, available P, and both NAG and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. Structural equation modeling revealed that land use efficiency was influenced by planting patterns and fertilization treatments: planting patterns acted primarily through root traits and soil nutrients, while fertilization treatments functioned mainly via soil enzyme activities and nutrients.</p> Conclusion <p>Complementary resource acquisition strategies among mixed mycorrhizal tree species enhance nutrient use efficiency. Selecting species with synergistic resource-use capabilities is recommended for afforestation in nutrient-poor regions.</p>

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Nutrient acquisition strategies of mixed plantations of mycorrhizal tree species improve land use efficiency in abandoned coal gangue region of Northern China

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月23日

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  • Chunxia He,
  • Kunqi Xu,
  • Xinyuan Qiao,
  • Jun Ma,
  • Xiaogang Wu,
  • Zhiling Wang,
  • Bitao Liu

摘要

Background and aims

Mycorrhizal fungi enhance plant nutrient uptake from the soil. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) tree species have distinct fast-slow nutrient economies, but how their nutrient acquisition strategies change in monocultures versus mixtures remains unclear. Thus, we examined root growth and trait variations, nutrient uptake, and land use efficiency in monoculture/mixed stands of the two mycorrhizal tree types under different nutrient environments.

Methods

In a nutrient-poor coal gangue area, AM Broussonetia papyrifera and ECM Pinus tabulaeformis were planted in monoculture/mixed stands under four nutrient regimes: unfertilized control, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and combined N and P fertilization. We measured root traits, root length and biomass, leaf N and P accumulation, soil carbon (C), N, and P nutrients, and enzyme activities.

Results

In mixtures, B. papyrifera increased root length and biomass (nutrient-foraging strategy), while P. tabulaeformis increased root exudation (nutrient-mining strategy) but reduced root length, biomass, and respiration rate. Mixed stands contained higher soil nutrients and β-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity compared to P. tabulaeformis monoculture, and surpassed B. papyrifera monoculture in total N, available P, and both NAG and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. Structural equation modeling revealed that land use efficiency was influenced by planting patterns and fertilization treatments: planting patterns acted primarily through root traits and soil nutrients, while fertilization treatments functioned mainly via soil enzyme activities and nutrients.

Conclusion

Complementary resource acquisition strategies among mixed mycorrhizal tree species enhance nutrient use efficiency. Selecting species with synergistic resource-use capabilities is recommended for afforestation in nutrient-poor regions.