Are microorganisms more effective than plants at competing for nitrogen?

Plant scientists have long debated whether plants or microorganisms are the superior competitor for nitrogen in terrestrial ecosystems, Microorganisms have traditionally been viewed as the victors but recent evidence that pla nts can take up organic nitrogen compounds intact and can successfully acqu ire N from organic patches in soil raises the question anew. We argue that the key determinants of 'success' in nitrogen competition are spatial diffe rences in nitrogen availability and in root and microbial distributions, to gether with temporal differences in microbial and root turnover. Consequent ly, it is not possible to discuss plant-microorganism competition without t aking into account this spatiotemporal context.