Mixed-species plantations enhance phosphorus acquisition and utilization through microbial and metabolic adjustments on the Tibetan Plateau

Phosphorus limitation constrains shelterbelt plantations, but how Populus and Salix mixtures improve P acquisition and use remains unclear. We combined a field survey with a greenhouse factorial experiment. We quantified microbial communities, Hedley P fractions, microbial biomass P and phosphatases, leaf P fractions and metabolomes, and synthesized pathways with structural equation modelling.