Fig. 5 Schematic showing how the P cycling links P demand and P supply during litter decomposition under control and warming. The increased plant P uptake (2) with rapid plant growth under warming is supported by the enhanced plant P resorption (1), soil P mineralization (4), and P release from Fe minerals (5) without changing litter P mineralization (3), total leachate P (6), fine root and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi abundance (AMF) within the ecosystems. The enhanced soil P mineralization is associated with the increased phosphatase activity, while the enhanced P dissolution is indicated by the increase in reduction of Fe concomitantly released Fe associate inorganic P. The increase in released P is rapidly immobilized by plants but not microbes and results in an equilibrium of soluble P.