Legume trees change soil chemistry and microbiology to increase access to nutrients and support growth for themselves and other trees.
A new study helps understand how these trees protect tropical forests and help in sustainable reforestation. Based on this work, researchers and policy-makers can develop more effective ways to reforest nutrient-poor degraded land and help mitigate climate change.
The trees acidify the soil on which they grow, and alter its carbon and nitrogen quantities. These changes make it easier for soil microbes to access nutrients. Researchers used genomic sequencing to discover that altered soil chemistry and the interaction between trees and soil bacteria kickstarts into action bacteria that break down rocks and extract nutrients like phosphorous and iron which are crucial for tree growth.
Legume trees also have bacteria living inside their roots that take fresh nitrogen from the atmosphere and supply it to nutrient-poor soils and surrounding trees.
Original article:
Legume trees support tropical forest growth by releasing nutrients from ancient soils
Original study:
Legume–microbiome interactions unlock mineral nutrients in regrowing tropical forests