mark smits edited From_lab_to_field_Although__.md  about 8 years ago

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# From lab to field  Although numerous experiments clearly show that (mycorrhizal) fungi do have an impact on mineral dissolution (see previous section), the significance of mycorrhizal weathering on soil and global scale weathering rates remains controversial. This ongoing controversy is caused by both the challenge to quantify the mycorrhizal contribution in the field, and a series insufficient consideration  of persisting misconceptions. other soil processes interacting with mineral weathering.  Modelling is a useful tool to test the scope of mycorrhizal weathering concepts. In this section we will review the available field data and modeling work on mycorrhizal weathering, and discuss the most persistent misconceptions weathering  in this research field. Without doubt does vegetation have a substantial positive effect on soil mineral weathering \cite{Berner_1992}.   It remains the question though, how much influence the associated mycorrhizal fungi have on this vegetation effect. 

##Historical weathering markers  Tunnels, as described in \cite{Jongmans_1997} are the only quantifiable fungal markers of weathering that remain visible over geological time.  Unfortunately, fungal tunneling either reflects only a small portion of the total effect of fungi on the weathering process, or the fungal impact is negligible, as tunneling contributes less than 0.5% tot total mineral weathering \cite{Smits_2005}.  In a recent paper Koele et al. \cite{Koele_2014} showed that mineral tunneling is not exlusively exclusively  found under ectomycorrhizal vegetation, but also in forest soils, never exposed to ectomycorrhizal vegetation. ##Isotope tracers  Stable isotopes of especially Ca and Sr have been used extensively to source the origin of Ca in drainage water .  

##Mineral incubations  As mineral weathering is a slow process, in order to quantify weathering rates the minerals should be either incubated for a long time or the mineral Long-term soil incubation of minerals in mesh-bags is a different approach to study mineral weathering.  The application of this type of experiments is reviewed by Gobran *et al.* \cite{Gobran_2005}. Not included in that review is a more recent study by Turpault et al \cite{Marie_Pierre_2009}.   A  strong advantage of the incubation approach, compared to microcosm experiments is that weathering rates are measured under real soil conditions. he The  drawback is that it is impossible to distinguish mycorrhizal weathering actions from other weathering actions. What is possible is to create root-exclusion zones. The study by Turpault *et al.* \cite{Marie_Pierre_2009} show a halving in Labradorite (a Ca-rich feldspar) dissolution rate in root exclusion zones. This effect diminished in plots that were previously Ca-fertilized.