The influence of earthworms (Lumbricidae) on the nitrogen dynamics in the soil litter system of a deciduous forest

Summary The influence of earthworms (Aporrectodea caliginosa (Savigny) and Lumbricus castaneus (Savigny)) on the rate of nitrogen net mineralization of the soil was studied in the laboratory and in the field. The additional mineralization of nitrogen cause by the burrowing activity of the substrat feeding earthworm A. caliginosa (N _L )was directly correlated to the biomass of the lumbricids independently of their number. A rise in temperature caused an exponential increase in N _L values. The Q ₁₀ value of this process (2.18) was found to be much higher than that of the nitrogen mineralization without earthworms (Q ₁₀=1.22). At 15°C the N _L value caused by A. caliginosa was calculated to be about 250 g N g^-1 fresh body wt d^-1. Using the experimentally determined exponential relationship between temperature and N _L values, the additional nitrogen mineralization caused by a population of A. caliginosa in a beechwood on limestone was calculated to be 4.23 kg ha^-1 a^-1.In contrast to A. caliginosa the litter dwelling species L. castaneus lost considerable amounts of biomass (56%) during the 4 week incubation period. Only 1/3 of the nitrogen equivalent to the weight loss of the animals was recovered in the mineral nitrogen pool.The addition of litter (old beech leaf litter, freshly fallen beech and ash leaf litter) had a pronounced effect on both nitrogen net mineralization and N _L values of the soil. Presence of old beech leaves caused an increase in both values, wheres the other litter types effected a decrease in nitrogen net mineralization. Fragmented ash litter was found to have the most distinct effect on N _L values (-69%) and nitrogen net mineralization (-74%).     

The effect of prolonged storage on the digestibility and nitrogen content of ammonia-treated barley straw

Barley straw in a 10-t stack was treated with anhydrous ammonia (40 kg t^?1 straw dry matter). Four bales, two buried in the stack and two with one face exposed, were sampled before treatment, at 54 days (1 day after the stack was first opened) and at regular intervals thereafter for a further 12 days. The total nitrogen content of the straw increased from the 6.7 g kg^?1 straw dry matter present before treatment to 20.7 g kg^?1 at day 54. Ammonia nitrogen contributed 7.4 g and non-ammonia nitrogen 6.6 g of this increase. There was a rapid loss of ammonia on opening the stack and this continued for the first week; thereafter ammonia was lost at a much slower rate. In all, 39% of the ammonia nitrogen present 1 day after opening was lost by the end of the sampling period. This loss accounted for the 18% reduction in total nitrogen recorded over the same period. Loss of nitrogen did not affect the digestibility of treated straw as determined by the nylon bag method using sheep. Digestibility, whether expressed as loss of dry matter or as digestibility of cellulose, remained constant throughout. Added water-insoluble nitrogen appeared to be more readily available than that initially present in untreated straw. The position of bales within the stack did not affect results significantly.     

大兴安岭北部天然针叶林土壤氮矿化特征

采用顶盖埋管法对大兴安岭地区天然针叶林(樟子松林、樟子松-兴安落叶松混交林和兴安落叶松林)土壤铵态氮(NH~+_4-N)、硝态氮(NO~-_3-N)、净氮矿化速率进行研究,并探索土壤理化性质与氮矿化之间的相关性,为大兴安岭地区森林生态系统土壤养分管理及森林经营提供帮助。结果表明:观测期内(5—10月)3种林型土壤无机氮变化范围为31.51—70.42 mg/kg,以NH~+_4-N形式存在为主,占比达90%以上,且与纯林相比混交林土壤无机氮含量较高。3种林型土壤净氮矿化、净氨化、净硝化速率月变化趋势呈V型,7、8月表现为负值,其他月份为正值。净氮矿化速率变化范围樟子松林为-0.54—1.28 mg kg~(-1) d~(-1)、樟子松-兴安落叶松混交林为-0.13—0.55 mg kg~(-1) d~(-1)、兴安落叶松林为-0.80—1.05 mg kg~(-1) d~(-1)。土壤净氨化过程在土壤氮矿化中占主要地位,占比达60%以上。3种林型土壤净氮矿化、净氨化及净硝化速率垂直差异显著,0—10 cm土层矿化作用明显高于10—20 cm土层(P0.05)。土壤氮矿化速率与土壤含水量、土壤有机碳含量、土壤C/N、枯落物全氮含量和枯落物C/N均存在显著相关性。不同类型的森林土壤及枯落物的质量也存在差异,进而影响土壤氮矿化特征。     

Production,decomposition, and nitrogen dynamics ofMyrica gale litter

Summary Myrica gale litter deposition and decomposition were studied in a central Massachusetts peatland to determine the amount of N made available to the ecosystem by these processes. Leaf litter added 114–140 g biomass m^–2 annually and contained 2.12–2.59 g N m^–2 returning about 70% as much N to the ecosystem as was fixed annually byMyrica gale. During the first five years of decomposition, the leaf liter lost only 40% of its initial biomass and released only 10% of its initial N content. About 60% of its original N mass was still present when the litter reached the permanently waterlogged zone, and thus was effectively lost to the vegetation. The low decomposition rate was due primarily to the chemical content of the litter because similarly low rates were observed in an upland forest where the native litter decayed rapidly. The initial lignin content (40%) ofM. gale litter may be largely responsible for its slow decomposition in spite of its relatively high (1.69%) initial N content.M. gale litter decayed substantially more slowly and had a much higher initial lignin content than the litter of other woody N₂-fixing plants which have been examined.     

Long-term effects of experimental nitrogen additions on foliar litter decay and humus formation in forest ecosystems

Decomposition rates and N dynamics of foliar litter from 4 tree species were measured over a 72 month period on the Chronic Nitrogen Addition plots at the Harvard Forest, Petersham MA, beginning in November 1988. Plots received nitrogen additions of 0, 5 and 15 g N m^-2yr^-1 in two different stand types: red pine and mixed hardwood. Bags were collected in August and November of each year and litter analysed for mass remaining, nitrogen, cellulose and lignin content. Mass remaining was significantly greater for litter in nitrogen treated plots than in control plots after 48 months. Lignin content of litter was significantly higher with nitrogen treatments but there was little effect of treatment on cellulose content. N concentration was similar between treatments, but greater mass remaining in treated plots resulted in a higher total amount of N in humus produced in the high N plot. This mechanism could be a sink for up to 1.5 g N·m^-2yr^-1 of the 1.5 g N·m^-2yr^-1 added annually to the high N plots. Reduced decomposition rates in conjunction with increased lignin accumulation could impact global carbon sequestration as well.     

滇中亚高山地带性植被凋落物分解对模拟氮沉降的响应

模拟氮（N）沉降对凋落物分解特征的影响对研究森林生态系统物质循环响应大气N沉降的内在机理和应对N沉降全球化具有重要意义。从2018年2月至2019年1月，对滇中亚高山常绿阔叶林（Evergreen broad-leaf forest）和高山栎林（Quercus semecarpifolia forest）两种地带性植被进行模拟N沉降试验，利用尼龙网袋法对两种林型凋落叶和凋落枝进行原位分解试验，N沉降处理水平分别为对照CK（Control check，0 g N m^-2 a^-1）、低氮LN（Low nitrogen，5 g N m^-2 a^-1）、中氮MN（Medium nitrogen，15 g N m^-2 a^-1）和高氮HN（High nitrogen，30 g N m^-2 a^-1）。结果表明：常绿阔叶林凋落叶和凋落枝分解率分别为44.84%和21.96%，均高于高山栎林的35.97%（凋落叶）和17.51%（凋落枝）；N沉降处理使得常绿阔叶林和高山栎林的凋落叶和凋落枝质量损失95%的时间在对照（CK）的基础上均有一定程度的增加，其中以HN处理下最为显著；经过1年的分解，两种林型凋落叶、枝纤维素和木质素降解均受到N沉降的抑制作用；两种林型中凋落物质量残留率、纤维素和木质素残留率三者间呈极显著正相关。针对滇中亚高山区域范围内的两种地带性植被，凋落物分解对N沉降的响应方向主要取决于凋落物基质质量，其中尤以纤维素和木质素为重要影响因素。     

模拟N沉降下不同林龄马尾松林凋落叶分解-土壤C、N化学计量特征

模拟N沉降对森林生态系统的影响是当今全球变化生态学研究的一个热点问题,土壤碳库对N沉降比较敏感,N沉降增加了凋落叶分解过程中外源N含量,间接影响凋落叶分解的化学过程并改变凋落叶分解速率,因此,研究模拟N沉降下凋落叶分解-土壤C-N关系对预测森林C吸存有重要意义。利用原位分解袋法研究了模拟N沉降下三峡库区不同林龄马尾松林(Pinus massoniana)凋落叶分解过程中凋落叶-土壤C、N化学计量响应及其关系;N沉降水平分对照(CK,0 g m~(-2)a~(-1))、低氮(LN,5 g m~(-2)a~(-1))、中氮(MN,10 g m~(-2)a~(-1))和高氮(HN,15 g m~(-2)a~(-1))。结果表明:分解540 d后,N沉降促进20年生和30年生马尾松林凋落叶分解,46年生马尾松林中仅低氮处理促进凋落叶分解,4种处理均是30年生分解最快,说明同一树种起始N含量低的凋落叶对N沉降呈正响应,N沉降处理促进起始N含量低的凋落叶分解,起始N含量高的凋落叶分解过程中易达到"N饱和"。N沉降抑制20年生和46年生凋落叶C释放(低于对照0.62%—6.69%),促进30年生C释放(高于对照0.28%—5.55%);30年生和46年生林分N固持量均高于对照(高于对照0.15%—21.34%),20年生则低于对照(5.70%—13.87%),说明模拟N沉降处理促进起始C含量低的凋落叶C释放和起始N含量低的凋落叶N固持。N沉降处理下仅30年生马尾松林土壤有机碳较对照增加,且土壤有机质与凋落叶C、N和分解速率呈正相关,与凋落叶C/N比呈显著负相关;土壤总氮与凋落叶分解速率、凋落叶N含量呈正相关,土壤有机碳/总氮比与凋落叶C、N含量呈正相关;对照处理中凋落叶分解指标对土壤养分影响顺序是分解速率凋落物C含量凋落物C/N比凋落物N含量,低、中、高氮处理中则是凋落物C含量分解速率凋落物N含量凋落物C/N比。研究表明低土壤养分含量马尾松林对N沉降呈正响应,N沉降促进低土壤养分马尾松林凋落叶分解并提高土壤肥力;凋落叶质量和土壤养分含量低的生态系统土壤C对N沉降响应更显著。     

Leaf‐cutting ants as ecosystem engineers: topsoil and litter perturbations around Atta cephalotes nests reduce nutrient availability

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植被类型与坡位对喀斯特土壤氮转化速率的影响

土壤氮素转化对于植物氮素营养具有重要作用,尤其是对于受氮素限制的喀斯特退化生态系统。选取植被恢复过程中4种典型喀斯特植被类型(草丛、灌丛、次生林、原生林)和3个坡位(上、中、下坡位)表层土壤(0—15cm)为对象,利用室内培养的方法,研究不同植被类型和坡位下土壤氮素养分与氮转化速率(氮净矿化率、净硝化率和净氨化率)的特征及其影响因素。结果表明,植被类型对土壤硝态氮含量、无机氮含量、氮净矿化率、净硝化率和净氨化率均有显著影响(P0.01),即随着植被的正向演替(草丛—灌丛—次生林—原生林),土壤硝态氮含量、无机氮含量、土壤氮净矿化速率和净硝化速率整体上呈增加趋势,而坡位以及坡位与植被类型的交互作用对上述土壤氮素指标无显著影响(P0.05)。冗余分析结果表明凋落物氮含量、凋落物C∶N比和硝态氮含量对土壤氮转化速率有显著影响,其中凋落物氮含量是影响土壤氮转化速率的主要因子(F=35.634,P=0.002)。可见,尽管坡位影响喀斯特水土再分配过程,但植被类型决定的凋落物质量(如凋落物氮含量等)对喀斯特土壤氮素转化速率的作用更为重要。因此,在喀斯特退化生态系统植被恢复初期,应注重植被群落的优化配置(如引入豆科植物)和土壤质量的改善(如降低土壤C∶N),促进土壤氮素转化及氮素的有效供给。     

The dynamics of peat accumulation on bogs: mass balance of hummocks and hollows and its variation throughout a millennium

This study concerns the mass balance in hummocks and hollows on three ombrotrophic boreonemoral bogs in both a short (ca 10 yr) and long (1000 yr) time scale. Nitrogen, ¹⁴C. and ^?210Pb are used to establish detailed time scales and to estimate productivity and decay losses in tour different microtopographical units: hummocks with either Sphagnum or lichens and hollows with either Sphagnum lawns or bare hollows. The accumulation of N and ²¹⁰Pb was greater in hummocks than in hollows. The litter input was higher in Sphagnum hummocks (170-210 g m^?2yr^?1) than in lawns (110-145 g m ^?2- yr^?1) while its decay rate (0.011 -0.014 yr^?1) did not differ. The arotelm was deeper in Sphagnum hummocks than in lawns but because of less compaction in lawns, neither residence time (80 100 yr) nor decay losses (70-75%) differed. Productivity in lichen hummocks and bare hollows was insignificant and the mass balance negative. It is concluded that the higher productivity in Sphugnum hummocks maintains the microtopography on the mire surface. The mass balance in hummocks will determine not only the development in hollows but also the rise of the ground water mound, and the height increment of a bog. The addition of mass to the catotelm has generally been less in hollows than in hummocks. Since 800 BP the overall input to the catotelm has decreased from about 150 to < 50 g m ^?2 yr^?1 due to longer residence time increasing losses through decay in the acrotelm from < 20% to 70% and is the result of either climatic changes or autogenic processes in the bog ecosystem. Before recent centuries the whole bog surface must have been covered with Sphagnum mosses, forming an overall input of litter as large as in the recent Sphagnum hummocks and lawns. Due to the present lesser cover of peat forming mosses (20-50% of the surface), the recent overall input of peat-forming litter is only 50-65 g m^?2 yr^?1. The bogs no longer act as sinks for carbon since the input of carbon only just covers the losses as CH₄ and CO₂.     

Decomposition and CO2 Evolution from Standing Litter of the Emergent Macrophyte Erianthus giganteus

Abstract Decomposition of standing litter of the emergent macrophyte Erianthus giganteus (plumegrass) was quantified in a small freshwater wetland in Alabama, USA. Living green shoots of E. giganteus were tagged and periodically retrieved for determination of leaf and culm mass loss, litter-associated fungal biomass (ergosterol), and nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. Laboratory studies were also conducted to examine the effects of plant litter moisture content and temperature on rates of CO₂ evolution from plant litter. Culm and leaf material lost 25 and 32% AFDM, respectively, during plant senescence and early litter decay. Fungal biomass, as determined by ergosterol concentrations, increased significantly in both leaf and culm litter during decomposition, with maximum biomass accounting for 3.7 and 6.7% of the total detrital weight in culm and leaf litter, respectively. Spatial differences in fungal biomass were observed along the culm axis, with upper regions of the culm accumulating significantly greater amounts of fungal mass than basal regions (p < 0.01, ANOVA). Rates of CO₂ evolution from both leaf and culm litter increased rapidly after wetting (0 to 76 μg CO₂−C g⁻¹ AFDM h⁻¹ within 5 min). In addition, rates of CO₂ evolution from water saturated culms increased exponentially as the temperature was increased from 10 to 30°C. These results provide evidence that considerable microbial colonization and mineralization of standing emergent macrophyte litter can occur before collapse of senescent shoot material to the water and sediment surface. Received: 5 December 1998; Accepted: 31 March 1999     

施氮肥和钙肥对烤烟根系形态、生理代谢及产量的影响

为了解氮肥和钙肥对烤烟(Nicotiana tabacum)生长的影响,对成熟期烤烟的根系形态、生理代谢指标和产量进行了研究。结果表明,与施0.12 g kg^-1氮相比,施0.20 g kg^-1氮的烤烟根系最长侧根长、根系体积、根干重、叶干重和可溶性蛋白质含量均极显著升高,MDA含量极显著下降,SOD活性显著下降,但对侧根数、CAT活性和O₂^·的影响均不显著。施钙0.40 g kg^-1,根系体积、侧根数、CAT和SOD活性以及可溶性蛋白质含量均比对照提高,MDA含量和O₂^·则降低;施钙1.00 g kg^-1,最长侧根长、根干重和叶干重均提高。氮×钙互作对烤烟的最长侧根长、根系体积、根干重、叶干重和生理代谢指标的影响均极显著,但对侧根数的影响不显著。因此,施0.20 g kg^-1氮和0.40 g kg^-1钙能最大限度地改善烤烟根系形态、生理状况及提高产量。     

Root decomposition across a barrier island chronosequence: Litter quality and environmental controls

A root decomposition study using the litterbag approach was conducted along a dune and swale chronosequence on the Virginia Coast Reserve-Long Term Ecological Research Site in Virginia, USA to evaluate how environmental and substrate quality factors influence belowground decay and associated nutrient dynamics. Gradients in moisture levels and nitrogen availability associated with the chronosequence provided the experimental framework. Spartina patens roots were buried at all sites as a standard substrate to evaluate environmental influences. Roots native to each site were buried to evaluate community decay dynamics and the influence of litter quality. Spartina decay was reduced in the wet, anoxic soils of swale sites (k = 0.21–0.33 yr^-1) relative to decay in dunes soils (k = 0.52–0.72 yr^-1). Increasing soil nitrogen availability from younger to older sites had no effect on the rate of Spartina root decay. Native root decay across the Hog Island chronosequence exhibits certain trends expected in response to nitrogen limitation and moisture availability. Increased nitrogen content of root material corresponds to increased soil nitrogen availability. Among dune sites, native root decay increased in concert with increased root nitrogen (6 year k = 0.34 yr^-1, 120 year dune: k = 0.97 yr^-1). Litter quality, alone, does not explain this trend since Spartina roots decayed more slowly than native dune roots and had a higher initial nitrogen content. Among swales, increased moisture levels and associated soil anoxia inhibited native root decomposition and minimized the effects of litter quality on decay. In general, phosphorus was rapidly lost from decaying roots while nitrogen immobilization was low to nonexistent. The low nitrogen immobilization of decaying roots in a nitrogen limited ecosystem warrants further study and may reveal that belowground decay increases the rate of nutrient cycling relative to decay aboveground.     

凋落物添加和模拟氮磷沉降对红松凋落物木质素降解和碳释放的影响

通过对阔叶红松林和红松人工林2种林型凋落物处理（分别为不添加凋落物（原样组）、添加凋落物（双倍组）和去除凋落物（去除组）等3个处理）与模拟氮磷沉降（分别为对照CK （0 g N m^-2 a^-1、0 g P m^-2 a^-1）、低浓度氮磷（5 g N m^-2 a^-1、5 g P m^-2 a^-1）、中浓度氮磷（15 g N m^-2 a^-1、10g P m^-2 a^-1）和高浓度氮磷（30 g N m^-2 a^-1、20 g P m^-2 a^-1）等4个强度）原位培养试验,研究凋落物质量的增加与氮磷沉降及两种处理的耦合作用对碳（C）和木质素分解释放的影响。结果表明：凋落物添加在试验前期（6月）抑制人工林L层的C释放,促进H层的C释放;试验后期（10月）促进人工林L层C释放,而抑制H层的C释放。凋落物添加在前期（6月）是促进天然林L层C释放的,但在后期（10月）产生抑制作用。与L层相反,凋落物添加持续促进天然林H层的C释放。低、中浓度氮磷沉降显著促进了红松人工林和阔叶红松林L、H层C释放和木质素降解,但高浓度的氮磷添加会抑制C释放和木质素的降解,两种处理之间无交互作用。     

Leaf litter ash alkalinity and neutralisation of soil acidity

Soil acidification is a major factor limiting the sustainability of agricultural production systems throughout the world. Liming may not always be economically possible and therefore alternative methods or complementary methods of amelioration are required. Leaf litter collected from several tree species was examined for ash alkalinity (as an estimate of organic anion content) and ability to ameliorate an acid soil. Ash alkalinity measured by titration of the ash and excess cation values obtained by calculation as the difference between cation and anion content were correlated. Values obtained by the latter method ranged from 247 cmol _c kg^-1 for Melia azedarach (white cedar) to 36 cmol _c kg^-1 for Eucalyptus globoidea (white stringybark). There was a significant linear correlation between ash alkalinity and the Ca concentration in the litter. When added to an acid soil (pH 4.04 measured in 0.01 M calcium chloride) and incubated for 8 weeks, leaf litter raised the pH. Species differed markedly with Melia azedarach having the greatest effect. The increase in pH was proportional to the quantity of ash alkalinity (organic anions) added, expressed as calcium carbonate equivalents. Aluminium levels on the exchange complex were lowered by treatment with leaf litter through direct precipitation of a solid phase and again Melia azedarach litter was most effective. There was also indirect evidence of organo-Al complexes affecting the concentration of monomeric Al in soil treated with litter from Liquidambar styraciflua (liquidambar), Quercus robur (English oak) and Pinus radiata (radiata pine).     

长白山苔原带凋落物生态化学计量特征及其对模拟氮沉降的响应

长白山苔原是我国乃至欧亚大陆东部独有的高山苔原,根据前人调查植被以灌木苔原为主要类型。在全球变暖背景下,近30年来,长白山岳桦林下的草本植物侵入苔原带,原生灌木苔原分化为灌木苔原、灌草苔原和草本苔原,形成了灌木、灌草混合和草本3种不同类型的凋落物,凋落物数量和质量发生显著改变。与此同时长白山苔原氮沉降量也在逐年增加,导致了土壤中氮的累积,势必影响凋落物的分解。凋落物作为连接植物和土壤的纽带,其分解过程中碳（C）、氮（N）、磷（P）等化学组分和化学计量比的变化直接和间接影响着土壤养分有效性和植物养分利用策略。为揭示氮沉降增加对长白山苔原带不同类型凋落物化学组分及生态化学计量特征早期变化的影响,开展了为期8个月的模拟氮沉降室内凋落物分解实验。在苔原带采集灌木优势种牛皮杜鹃和草本优势种小叶章的凋落物带回实验室,模拟灌木牛皮杜鹃群落、灌草混合的牛皮杜鹃-小叶章群落和草本小叶章群落的3种不同类型凋落物,设置三个施氮处理：对照（CK,0 g N m^-2 a^-1）、低氮（LN,10 g N m^-2 a^-1）、高氮（HN,20 g N m^-2 a^-1）。研究表明：（1）不施氮处理时,3种凋落物的C、P均呈释放状态,木质素（Li）呈先累积再略有降解趋势;牛皮杜鹃凋落物的N元素富集而其余两种凋落物N元素呈释放状态;灌草混合和草本凋落物比原生的灌木凋落物C和N元素释放快、Li累积少;而灌木凋落物的P释放略快于灌草和草本凋落物。3种植被类型凋落物的C/N、C/P、Li/N大小表现为：牛皮杜鹃凋落物>牛皮杜鹃-小叶章混生群落凋落物>小叶章凋落物;N/P表现为：小叶章凋落物>牛皮杜鹃凋落物>牛皮杜鹃-小叶章混生群落凋落物。（2）氮沉降促进3种类型凋落物分解过程中C、N和P化学组分的释放,且氮浓度越高促进作用越显著。在牛皮杜鹃凋落物分解过程中,氮素添加到达某一阈值后,其C/N、C/P、N/P、Li/N的降幅最大,后续若再增加氮素,其对化学计量比的影响均会减弱;本实验中的氮素添加量增加促进了小叶章凋落物的C/N、Li/N下降。（3）草本植物入侵引起凋落物类型的变化带来凋落物分解加快,将导致长白山苔原带养分循环的变化;氮沉降增加对小叶章凋落物化学组分的释放及C/N、Li/N的下降更为促进,小叶章凋落物内难分解化合物减少,分解受到促进。高氮沉降加快了小叶章凋落物与土壤、草本植物之间的养分循环。因此,随着未来苔原带氮沉降量的增加,将更有利于小叶章在与牛皮杜鹃的竞争中获胜,使苔原带呈现草甸化趋势。     

氮添加对中亚热带杜鹃灌丛凋落物生产和叶分解的影响

凋落物的生产和分解是生态系统养分循环的重要过程,受到大气氮沉降的深刻影响。但目前相关研究主要集中于森林和草地生态系统,氮沉降对灌丛生态系统凋落物养分归还的影响规律尚不清楚。因此选择亚热带分布广泛的杜鹃灌丛为研究对象,进行了为期两年的模拟氮沉降试验。试验设置4个处理:对照(CK, 0 g m-2 a-1)、低氮(LN, 2 g m-2 a-1)、中氮(MN, 5 g m-2 a-1)和高氮(HN, 10 g m-2 a-1)。结果显示:CK、LN、MN和HN 4种处理下,群落年平均凋落物量分别为(1936.54±358.9)、(2541.89±112.5)、(2342.97±519.8)、(2087.22±391.8) kg/hm²,LN、MN和HN处理样地的凋落量分别比对照样地高出32.68%、21.16%和7.93%;凋落叶、花果、凋落枝和其他组分占总凋落量的比例分别为75.75%、15.09%、7.70%和1.45%,不同浓度氮处理下各组分的凋落量均高于对照样地;凋落物组分表现出明显的季节动态:凋落叶在10—11月份达到峰值,凋落枝在10月份达到峰值,花果凋落物则在5月份凋落量最高,不同氮处理下凋落物的季节动态基本一致;白檀凋落叶分解速率显著高于杜鹃,二者分解95%所需时间分别为5.08—11.11 a和7.69—17.65 a,施氮使白檀凋落叶分解周期比对照样地缩短18.18%—54.28%;凋落叶分解过程中,N元素表现为富集-释放模式,P元素表现为富集模式。研究表明,氮添加能够促进群落中白檀凋落叶分解及N、P元素的释放,说明施氮可以调节凋落叶养分释放模式,对灌丛生态系统的养分循环具有调控作用。     

Fungal biomass and decomposition in Spartina maritima leaves in the Mondego salt marsh (Portugal)

Spartina maritima (Curtis) Fernald is a dominant species in the Mondego salt marsh on the western coast of Portugal, and it plays a significant role in estuarine productivity. In this work, leaf litter production dynamics and fungal importance for leaf decomposition processes in Spartina maritima were studied. Leaf fall was highly seasonal, being significantly higher during dry months. It ranged from 42 g m^-2 in June to less than 6 g m^-2 during the winter. Fungal biomass, measured as ergosterol content, did not differ significantly between standing-decaying leaves and naturally detached leaves. Fungal biomass increased in wet months, with a maximum of 614 g g^-1 of ergosterol in January in standing-decaying leaves, and 1077 g g^-1 in December, in naturally detached leaves, decreasing greatly in summer. Seasonal pattern of fungal colonization was similar in leaves placed in litterbags on the marsh-sediment surface. However, ergosterol concentrations associated with standing-decaying and naturally detached leaves were always much higher than in litterbagged leaves, suggesting that fungal activity was more important before leaf fall. Dry mass of litterbagged leaves declined rapidly after 1 month (about 50%), mostly due to leaching of soluble organic compounds. After 13 months, Spartina leaves had lost 88% of their original dry weight. The decomposition rate constant (k) for Spartina maritima leaves was 0.151 month^-1.     

The failure of nitrogen and lignin control of decomposition in a North American desert

We measured mass losses of both buried and surface litter of six litter types: leaves of the perennial evergreen shrub, Larrea tridentata, leaves of the winter deciduous perennials Fluorensia cernua, Prosopis glandulosa and Chilopsis linearis (a desert riparian species), an evergreen monocot, Yucca elata, and a mixture of annual plants. These species differed in lignin content and carbon-nitrogen ratios. There was no correlation between rates of mass loss and percent lignin, carbon-nitrogen ratio, or lignin-nitrogen ratio. The leaves of F. cernua and the mixed annuals exhibited the highest rates of mass loss. Surface litter of Y. elata, the mixed annuals and C. linearis exhibited higher mass loss than buried litter of the same species. The patterns of mass loss of buried and surface litter differed with buried litter mass loss occurring as a negative exponential and surface litter exhibiting low rates in winter and spring and high rates in summer. There was no correlation between mass loss in surface bags that were field exposed for 1 month and actual evapotranspiration (AET) but there was a correlation between AET and mass losses in buried litter. A model relating mass loss to AET and initial lignin content underestimated mass losses in all species examined.     

Response of litter decomposition and related soil enzyme activities to different forms of nitrogen fertilization in a subtropical forest

With the continuing increase in the impact of human activities on ecosystems, ecologists are increasingly becoming interested in understanding the effects of nitrogen deposition on litter decomposition. At present, numerous studies have investigated the effects of single form of nitrogen fertilization on litter decomposition in forest ecosystems. However, forms of N deposition vary, and changes in the relative importance of different forms of N deposition are expected in the future. Thus, identifying the effects of different forms of N deposition on litter decomposition in forest ecosystems is a pressing task. In this study, two dominant litter types were chosen from Zijin Mountain in China: Quercus acutissima leaves from a late succession broad-leaved forest and Pinus massoniana needles from an early succession coniferous forest. The litter samples were incubated in microcosms with original forest soil and treated with four different forms of nitrogen fertilization [NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ⁻, CO(NH₂)₂, and a mix of all three]. During a 5-month incubation period, litter mass losses, soil pH values, and soil enzyme activities were determined. Results show that all four forms of nitrogen fertilization significantly accelerate litter decomposition rates in the broadleaf forest, while only two forms of nitrogen fertilization [i.e., mixed nitrogen and CO(NH₂)₂] significantly accelerate litter decomposition rates in the coniferous forest. Litter decomposition rates with the mixed nitrogen fertilization were higher than those in any single form of nitrogen fertilization. All forms of nitrogen fertilization enhanced soil enzyme activities (i.e., catalase, cellulase, invertase, polyphenol oxidase, nitrate reductase, urease, and acid phosphatase) during the litter decomposition process for the two forest types. Soil enzyme activities under the mixed nitrogen fertilization were higher than those under any single form of nitrogen fertilization. These results suggest that the type and activity of the major degradative enzymes involved in litter decomposition vary in different forest types under different forms of nitrogen fertilization. They also indicate that a long-term consequence of N deposition-induced acceleration of litter decomposition rates in subtropical forests may be the release of carbon stored belowground to the atmosphere.