biostudies-literatureUnknown14(3)Ndabankulu KSoils in grasslands and savannas of southern Africa are acidic and nutrient-poor. Legume plants, such as <i>Vachellia nilotica</i> and alien invasive <i>Leucaena leucocephala</i>, are a major component of the vegetation there. <i>Vachellia nilotica</i> can establish in drought-prone environments, and is invasive in high rainfall areas. <i>Leucaena leucocephala</i> is an emerging invasive in South Africa and is ranked among the world's 100 most invasive alien species. Alien plants can invade native habitats through their adaptability to low-resource soils, and thus can out-compete and displace native vegetation. We investigated the effects of phosphorus (P) deficiency and soil acidity on legume-microbe symbiosis, nitrogen (N) nutrition and carbon (C) growth costs of these two legumes in graAoB PLANTSplac026https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9211186biostudies-literatureAlien invasive <i>Leucaena leucocephala</i> successfully acquires nutrients by investing in below-ground biomass compared to native <i>Vachellia nilotica</i> in nutrient-amended soils in South Africa.PMC9211186Magadlela ANdabankulu KTsvuura ZfalseAlien invasive <i>Leucaena leucocephala</i> successfully acquires nutrients by investing in below-ground biomass compared to native <i>Vachellia nilotica</i> in nutrient-amended soils in South Africa.Soils in grasslands and savannas of southern Africa are acidic and nutrient-poor. Legume plants, such as <i>Vachellia nilotica</i> and alien invasive <i>Leucaena leucocephala</i>, are a major component of the vegetation there. <i>Vachellia nilotica</i> can establish in drought-prone environments, and is invasive in high rainfall areas. <i>Leucaena leucocephala</i> is an emerging invasive in South Africa and is ranked among the world's 100 most invasive alien species. Alien plants can invade native habitats through their adaptability to low-resource soils, and thus can out-compete and displace native vegetation. We investigated the effects of phosphorus (P) deficiency and soil acidity on legume-microbe symbiosis, nitrogen (N) nutrition and carbon (C) growth costs of these two legumes in gra2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Jun2025-04-26T23:32:37.722Z2025-04-06T17:34:03.611ZS-EPMC92111863574724610.1093/aobpla/plac026