Soil fungal communities and their contributions to SOM cycling. soil metagenome

Quantifying the contribution of EM mycelia to SOM turnover is of critical importance to carbon models . In this study, we evaluated a system to trap enzymatically active EM hyphae under field conditions. Natural-substrate filled mesh bags, surrounded by a sand barrier were effective at trapping EM hyphae while minimizing colonization by obligate saprotrophic fungi. The generated fungal communities were similar in composition to those in the surrounding fermentation/humus layer at both trophic and higher taxonomic levels. Consequently, this system allowed us to study the contribution of EMF mycelia to soil enzyme activity and to SOM-C cycling.