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Mycorrhizal weathering in base-poor forests

Author

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  • Shaun A. Watmough

    (Trent University)

  • Peter J. Dillon

    (Trent University)

Abstract

Minerals in soil contain many small pores, which has led to the suggestion that trees are able to 'mine' essential nutrients such as calcium through their association with symbiotic mycorrhizae, thereby bypassing the exchangeable calcium pool in the soil1,2. On the basis of the calcium-to-strontium (Ca/Sr) ratios in the foliage of trees at Hubbard Brook (an experimental forest), Blum et al. suggest that these trees have direct access to calcium from apatite (calcium phosphate) in lower soil horizons through their mycorrhizal associations3. But because Ca/Sr ratios can vary greatly in different parts of a plant, Ca/Sr ratios in foliage are poor indicators of the source of calcium for trees. Differences in Ca/Sr ratios in tree foliage should be interpreted with caution until more is known about the cycling of these elements in forests.

Suggested Citation

  • Shaun A. Watmough & Peter J. Dillon, 2003. "Mycorrhizal weathering in base-poor forests," Nature, Nature, vol. 423(6942), pages 823-824, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:423:y:2003:i:6942:d:10.1038_423823b
    DOI: 10.1038/423823b
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