Summary
This controlled microcosm experiment with 11 grassland plant species demonstrates that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhance both the resistance and resilience of plant communities facing dual stressors of drought and nitrogen enrichment. AMF presence improved plant productivity and diversity whilst reducing nitrogen losses and mitigating adverse effects on ecosystem function stability. The findings underscore AMF's role as a biological buffer against multiple global change perturbations.
UK applicability
Given the prevalence of AMF in UK grassland soils and the increasing frequency of drought events and atmospheric nitrogen deposition in the UK, these findings suggest that management practices supporting AMF communities (such as reduced tillage and diverse plant communities) could enhance pastoral and grassland resilience. However, field validation under UK climatic and soil conditions would be required.
Key measures
Plant productivity, plant diversity, nitrogen cycling rates, nitrogen leaching losses, N₂O emissions, resistance to drought, resilience (recovery of plant community structure post-drought)
Outcomes reported
The study measured plant productivity, plant diversity, nitrogen cycling, nitrogen leaching, N₂O emissions, and ecosystem resilience in grassland microcosms exposed to drought and elevated nitrogen. It assessed the buffering capacity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) against these global change stressors.
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