Story perspectives

Plants Snag Inorganic Nitrogen, Microbes Favor Organic Amino Acids

6/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

Researchers led by Ellen Fry found that plants absorb inorganic nitrogen while microbes prefer organic amino acids.
Plants moved ammonium and nitrate to shoots where nitrogen accumulated while soil microbes broke down complex organic nitrogen before plants could reuse it.
Faster-growing dominant plant species took up more nitrogen overall.
The partitioning of nitrogen between plants and microbes may affect ecosystem resilience and inform sustainable soil-management practices.

1 of 1

Story summary

Researchers led by Ellen Fry found that plants absorb inorganic nitrogen while microbes prefer organic amino acids.
Plants moved ammonium and nitrate to shoots where nitrogen accumulated while soil microbes broke down complex organic nitrogen before plants could reuse it.
Faster-growing dominant plant species took up more nitrogen overall.
The partitioning of nitrogen between plants and microbes may affect ecosystem resilience and inform sustainable soil-management practices.