{"model":{"id":6036,"update_text":"

I've always wanted to track carbon through these systems, but haven't had the time or resources to do it. I will already be taking a nitrogen budget (plant N, soil N, bacterial N, N fixation rates, microbial biomass, etc.), and the next logical step is to get the C budget, and to understand it better.

In my (mycorrhizal) world, carbon and nutrients (usually phosphorus and nitrogen) are the currency. Think of carbon coming from the plant like the paycheck from the company you work for, and the nutrients like the amount of work you do. Theoretically, you get paid for how much work you do, but it isn't always a fair deal. Sometimes people are better at working the system, and get paid more for the same amount of work, or sometimes EVEN LESS WORK. This is the same concept with mycorrhizal fungi; one fungal partner may be much better at getting nitrogen or phosphorus to the plant, but not get as much carbon in return as another less 'helpful' fungal partner. Tracking who the carbon is going to and quantifying their abundance is like seeing who is getting paid, and what they're getting paid (only this is carbon not $$$$).

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