9. Enrichment." mycorrhiza and fungi
Mycorrhizal associations are almost universal in the roots of plants and are
known to increase the yield of the host plants under conditions of low
fertility. The available evidence suggests that fungal hyphae absorb P from
the same nutrient pool as uninfected roots, but have an additional exploration
potential [14]. More extensive root systems of woody species implicate
a better access to minerals with low mobility due to low solubility, like
P-compounds. In addition, long lived tree roots are claimed to promote the
solubilization of nutrients in the rhizosphere due to increased acidity [60].
Clearly, increased P-availability could lead to increased N-availability by
bacterial N-fixation.