Project R-15836

Dynamics of Soil Organic Matter Mediated by Mycorrhizal Fungi: Mechanisms, Modelling, and Global Implications (Research)

This PhD project aims to unravel the impacts of mycorrhizal fungi on soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics, with a focus on their contribution to SOC stabilization. Mycorrhizal fungi, which play a crucial but often overlooked role in carbon cycling, affect SOC through pathways like carbon transfer to fungal biomass and soil aggregation. Mycorrhizal fungi, symbiotic partners of 90% of plants, influence SOC through dual pathways: stabilizing carbon via mycelium necromass and soil aggregation, or accelerating decomposition via priming effects. However, the net impact of these processes remains contested, with uncertainties stemming from oversimplified model frameworks and a lack of mechanistic integration across scales. The aim of this project is to elucidate the mechanistic pathways through which mycorrhizal fungi regulate soil organic carbon dynamics, develop a process-based model that incorporates plant-mycorrhiza feedbacks, and quantify their contributions to global soil carbon turnover and stabilization. Meta-analysis and field experiments will be employed to investigate how mycorrhizal fungal traits influence different components of soil organic carbon pools. These findings will then be used to develop a model that translates the impacts of mycorrhizal fungi on soil organic carbon into quantitative pathways, allowing for the global-scale quantification of their contributions. The research will combine experimental fieldwork at Nanjing Forestry University with global mycorrhizal fungi distribution data from Hasselt University to quantify the contributions of mycorrhizal fungi to SOC stabilization across different ecosystems. The project also aims to enhance the understanding of plant-mycorrhiza feedbacks, which will inform strategies for carbon sequestration and ecosystem management. By bridging fungal ecology and forest ecosystem management, this collaboration advances both institutions' research capabilities and fosters long-term cooperation in soil carbon science.

19 June 2025 - 30 April 2026