Independent roles of ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic communities in soil organic matter decomposition

► We link fungal communities to different enzymatic decay processes in soil. ► We quantify environmental drivers of ectomycorrhizal and saprotroph communities. ► Saprotrophic fungi determine decay of carbon- and phosphorus-rich molecules. ► Ectomycorrhizal fungi drive decay of complex nitrogen molecules in soil. ► Ectomycorrhizal root tips contribute little to total enzymatic activity in soil.