Clay minerals: Overlooked purveyors of soil nitrogen

Clay minerals are important agents in the long-term storage of soil organic nitrogen. However, this pool is not merely an end-point for stabilization; minerals also mediate nitrogen supply, especially in the rhizosphere. This dual role of clay minerals as stabilizers and a potential source of nitrogen is not represented in prevailing models and perspectives on soil N cycling. I will explore the specific mechanisms and plant-microbe interactions that serve to unlock nitrogen from this pool we too often deem as passive or inert.