Resource, biological community and soil functional stability dynamics at the soil–litter interface

The interface between decaying plant residues and soil is a focus for soil ecological processes because of resources from the residues diffusing into the soil, and microfauna that proliferate in the adjacent soil. Given that the recovery of soil function following disturbance depends on immigration, colonization and establishment of exotic organisms from adjacent un-disturbed habitats, and the availability of bio-available resources, we hypothesized that the soil–litter interface could contribute to soil functional stability. In laboratory pot trials, soil was separated into two parts by a mesh bag with the inner section amended, or not amended, with rice straw; an outer layer of unamended soil, adjacent to the litter (1.5 cm thick, either heated or not), provided a soil–litter interface. This enabled us to examine the dynamics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), mineral nitrogen, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), nematode assemblages and functional stability during 35 days incubation. Either 1 mm or 5 μm meshes were used, which allowed nematodes to migrate (SR1) or not (SR5) through the mesh to the soil–litter interface; thus also enabling us to evaluate the role of nematodes in soil functional stability. Higher DOC and MBC but lower mineral nitrogen concentrations were found at the soil–litter interface. Heating increased the availability of soil resources such as mineral nitrogen and DOC, but decreased the MBC and total nematode abundance in the soil. The soil–litter interface was characterized by a higher abundance of nematodes, particularly microbivores, regardless of mesh aperture or disturbance. The difference in nematode abundance between SR1 and SR5 indicated that nematode propagation, due to resource diffusion and nematode migration through the mesh, contributed to the changing numbers of microbivorous nematodes depending on incubation time. The soil functional stability was calculated as a relative change in the functioning of short-term barley decomposition. Soil functional resistance, defined as the instantaneous effect of disturbance on decomposition measured on the first day, was highest in the SR5 treatment. However, soil functional resilience, defined as the recovery of soil function over the whole incubation period (35d), was highest in the SR1 treatment, which is most probably attributed to the functioning of microbivorous nematodes. Our results suggest that small-scale spatial heterogeneity, due to organic residue decomposition, can help maintain soil functions following disturbance.     

西双版纳热带季节雨林凋落叶分解与土壤动物群落：两种网孔分解袋的分解实验比较

 以西双版纳热带湿性季节沟谷雨林混合凋落叶作为分解基质,在不同位置季节雨林样地,采用不同网孔（ 2和0.15 mm）分解袋,开展大中型土壤动物对雨林凋落叶分解影响的实验,测定了不同网孔分解袋土壤动 物多样性、凋落叶分解速率和主要养分元素释放状况。结果显示：2 mm网孔分解袋土壤动物类群相对密度 年均值为2.67～2.83目•g－1凋落物干重,个体相对密度年均值为22.3～21.77个•g－1凋落物干重,显著 高于0.15 mm网孔分解袋的类群相对密度0.27～0.28目•g－1凋落物干重和个体相对密度2.88～2.77个•g－ 1凋落物干重（p<0.01）,并且0.15 mm网孔分解袋中极少量的动物个体主要为小型类群弹尾目和蜱螨目（ 原生动物、湿生土壤动物线虫不计）,由此我们视2 mm网孔分解袋凋落叶分解由绝大多数土壤动物和其它 土壤生物共同作用,而0.15 mm网孔分解袋基本排除了大中型土壤动物对袋内凋落叶分解的影响。2 mm网 孔分解袋凋落叶物质失重率（71%左右）、分解率指数（1.88～2.44）和主要养分元素释放率明显高于 0.15 mm分解袋（34%～35%,0.48～0.58）。通过比较两种不同网孔分解袋凋落叶失重率和元素释放率的 差异,显示出季节雨林大中型土壤动物群落对凋落叶物质损失的贡献率为年均值46%左右,并使凋落叶C/N 和C/P明显降低,而对不同元素释放率的影响不同,其中对N、S和Ca元素释放率的影响较大,而对K素释放 的影响作用最小。相关分析显示,2 mm网孔分解袋内土壤动物群落类群和个体的相对密度与凋落叶物质残 留率有较好的负相关关系,而群落香农多样性指数与凋落叶分解率指数表现出一定的正相关关系。     

氮沉降与降雨变化下中小型土壤动物对凋落物分解的影响

土壤动物是凋落物分解、养分转化过程的重要调节者,全球变化驱动的氮沉降与降雨变化通过改变其分解环境和土壤动物群落结构,进而影响凋落物分解进程。为了探究中小型土壤动物对凋落物分解的贡献受氮沉降和降雨变化的影响,本研究利用不同网孔(2 mm和0.01 mm)的凋落物分解网袋法,以建群种短花针茅为研究对象进行野外分解试验。试验采用裂区设计,主区为自然降雨(CK)、增雨30%(W)和减雨30%(R)3个水分处理,副区为0(N₀)、30(N₃₀)、50(N₅₀)和100(N₁₀₀) kg·hm^-2·a^-1 4个氮素处理。结果表明: 1)降雨变化显著影响了凋落物的分解速率,增雨处理中凋落物的分解速率加快,且随着氮添加浓度的升高,凋落物重量残留率逐渐降低,100 kg·hm^-2·a^-1时分解速度最快;在减雨处理与对自然降雨处理中凋落物的分解速率则呈先降低后升高的趋势,在50 kg·hm^-2·a^-1时分解速度最快。氮沉降和降雨变化对凋落物分解无显著的交互作用。2)在整个分解过程中,共捕获中小型土壤动物1577只,隶属于1门3纲13目(含亚目)49科,优势类群为蜱螨目、鞘翅目幼虫和弹尾目;增雨施氮提升了中小型土壤动物群落的类群数和个体数。3)凋落物重量残留率与中小型土壤动物类群数、个体数均呈极显著负相关,增雨处理整体提高了中小型土壤动物对凋落物分解的贡献率。综上,荒漠草原上中小型土壤动物对凋落物的分解具有积极作用,且水分和氮素输入的增加提高了中小型土壤动物的类群数及个体数,增加了其对凋落物分解的贡献;在水分不足时,过量的氮素会抑制中小型土壤动物群落的发展,导致中小型土壤动物对凋落物分解的贡献降低。     

Tree litter functional diversity and nitrogen concentration enhance litter decomposition via changes in earthworm communities

Biodiversity is a major driver of numerous ecosystem functions. However, consequences of changes in forest biodiversity remain difficult to predict because of limited knowledge about how tree diversity influences ecosystem functions. Litter decomposition is a key process affecting nutrient cycling, productivity, and carbon storage and can be influenced by plant biodiversity. Leaf litter species composition, environmental conditions, and the detritivore community are main components of the decomposition process, but their complex interactions are poorly understood. In this study, we tested the effect of tree functional diversity (FD) on litter decomposition in a field experiment manipulating tree diversity and partitioned the effects of litter physiochemical diversity and the detritivore community. We used litterbags with different mesh sizes to separate the effects of microorganisms and microfauna, mesofauna, and macrofauna and monitored soil fauna using pitfall traps and earthworm extractions. We hypothesized that higher tree litter FD accelerates litter decomposition due to the availability of complementary food components and higher activity of detritivores. Although we did not find direct effects of tree FD on litter decomposition, we identified key litter traits and macrodetritivores that explained part of the process. Litter mass loss was found to decrease with an increase in leaf litter carbon:nitrogen ratio. Moreover, litter mass loss increased with an increasing density of epigeic earthworms, with most pronounced effects in litterbags with a smaller mesh size, indicating indirect effects. Higher litter FD and litter nutrient content were found to increase the density of surface‐dwelling macrofauna and epigeic earthworm biomass. Based on structural equation modeling, we conclude that tree FD has a weak positive effect on soil surface litter decomposition by increasing the density of epigeic earthworms and that litter nitrogen‐related traits play a central role in tree composition effects on soil fauna and decomposition.     

Decomposition of cellulose,soil organic matter and plant litter in a temperate grassland soil

The formation of mor humus in an experimental grassland plot, which has been acidified by long-term fertiliser treatment, has been studied by comparing the rates of cellulose, soil organic matter and plant litter decay with those in an adjacent plot with near-neutral pH and mull humus. The decomposition of cellulose filter paper in litter bags of 5 mm, 1-mm and 45-μm mesh size buried at 3 to 4 cm depth the plots was followed by measuring the weight loss and changes in glucose content over a 6 month period. Soil pH was either 5.3 or 4.3. Decomposition of native soil organic matter and plant litter in soil from the same plots were followed using CO₂ evolution in laboratory microcosms. Cellulose weight loss at pH 5.3 was greatest from the 5-mm mesh bags and least from the 45-um mesh bags. At pH 4.3 there was little weight loss from bags and no significant differences in weight loss between bags with different sized mesh. There was, however, a reduction in the glucose content of the hydrolysed and derivatised filter paper with time. The decomposition rate of native soil organic matter in the low pH soil was increased to that observed in the less acid soil when the pH of the former was increased from 4.3 to 5.3. The increase in decomposition rate of added plant litter in the more acid soil as a result of CA(OH)₂ addition was only 60% of that observed in the soil with pH 5.3. These data support the hypothesis that the absence of soil animals and the restricted microbial decomposition in the acidic soil was responsible for mor humus formation.     

Temporal dynamics of biotic and abiotic drivers of litter decomposition

Climate, litter quality and decomposers drive litter decomposition. However, little is known about whether their relative contribution changes at different decomposition stages. To fill this gap, we evaluated the relative importance of leaf litter polyphenols, decomposer communities and soil moisture for litter C and N loss at different stages throughout the decomposition process. Although both microbial and nematode communities regulated litter C and N loss in the early decomposition stages, soil moisture and legacy effects of initial differences in litter quality played a major role in the late stages of the process. Our results provide strong evidence for substantial shifts in how biotic and abiotic factors control litter C and N dynamics during decomposition. Taking into account such temporal dynamics will increase the predictive power of decomposition models that are currently limited by a single‐pool approach applying control variables uniformly to the entire decay process.     

宁夏荒漠草原柠条锦鸡儿枯落物分解特征及其影响因素

以宁夏荒漠草原柠条锦鸡儿(Caragana kornshinskii)枯落物为研究对象,利用网孔分解袋法研究了极小型、小型、中型和大型柠条锦鸡儿灌丛微生境枯落物分解率变化特征及对土壤环境的响应规律。结果表明:(1)随着分解时间延长,不同大小柠条锦鸡儿灌丛微生境土壤含水量和土壤温度均呈现出相似的分布特征,而土壤pH值和电导率随时间分布特征则受到灌丛大小的显著影响。(2)3种网孔内,不同大小柠条灌丛微生境间枯落物分解率均无显著差异性。但是,灌丛微生境中枯落物分解率受到灌丛大小和网孔大小的共同影响。(3)中型灌丛微生境中枯落物分解率在3种网孔间均无显著差异性。但在极小型灌丛微生境中,120 d时枯落物分解率表现为4 mm(40.95%)0.01 mm(38.51%)2 mm(32.14%),150 d时枯落物分解率表现为2 mm(37.64%)4 mm(35.20%)0.01 mm(26.68%)。在小型灌丛微生境中,120 d时枯落物分解率表现为0.01 mm(46.81%)4 mm(41.07%)2 mm(34.75%)。在大型灌丛微生境中,120 d时枯落物分解率表现为4 mm(39.65%)2 mm(36.65%)0.01 mm(35.96%),210 d时枯落物分解率表现为2 mm(48.05%)4 mm(35.96%)0.01 mm(30.80%)。(4)Olson衰减指数模型得出枯落物分解50%和95%所需时间,表现为极小型灌丛和中型灌丛微生境中均为0.95年和4.1年(3种网孔相同);小型灌丛微生境中为0.63年和2.74年(4 mm)、1.90年和8.21年(2 mm)、0.95年和4.1年(0.01 mm);大型灌丛微生境中为0.95年和4.1年(4 mm)、0.63年和2.74年(2 mm)、1.90年和8.21年(0.01 mm)。研究表明,在宁夏荒漠草原,仅灌丛大小引起的微生境差异对枯落物分解率影响较小,但灌丛大小和土壤动物类群的相互作用对枯落物分解率的影响较大。     

深松和秸秆还田对甘肃引黄灌区土壤物理性状和玉米生产的影响

通过在甘肃引黄灌区灰钙土2015—2017年的田间试验,研究深松35 cm秸秆还田、深松35 cm秸秆不还田与传统旋耕秸秆不还田对土壤紧实度、容重、入渗率和0～100 cm土层土壤水分、玉米产量、养分吸收量的影响.结果表明: 与深松35 cm秸秆不还田及旋耕秸秆不还田相比,深松35 cm秸秆还田使0～40 cm土层土壤紧实度和容重降低最明显,2017年收获后紧实度与容重较2015年试验前分别下降42.6%、7.0%,且2016和2017年播种前与收获后0～40 cm土层紧实度和容重的变幅最小,紧实度变异系数平均为6.1%,容重为3.2%,土壤入渗率较旋耕秸秆不还田提高33.6%;深松35 cm秸秆还田可显著提高春秋两季0～100 cm土层剖面含水量,降低剖面水分变异,0～100 cm土层土壤贮水量较旋耕秸秆不还田春季增加15.5%,秋季增加5.6%,水分利用效率提高32.4%;此外,深松35 cm秸秆还田能促进玉米生产,较旋耕秸秆不还田的经济产量两年平均分别增产25.6%,生物产量提升33.3%,玉米氮、磷、钾养分吸收量分别提高49.6%、51.5%和37.6%.综上,深松35 cm秸秆还田能改善物理土壤特性,稳定耕层物理性状,提高0～100 cm土层剖面水分含量及春秋两季土壤平均贮水量,降低水分变异,是促进玉米水肥高效利用,实现高产的最优措施,为甘肃引黄灌区耕层构建技术的深入研究提供理论依据.     

模拟雪被变化对水曲柳和兴安落叶松凋落叶分解的影响

气候变化引起的雪被变化会深刻地影响森林凋落物的分解过程.本研究采用人工控雪处理(对照、增雪、除雪)模拟研究雪被变化对两种温带树种——水曲柳和兴安落叶松凋落叶分解动态的影响. 为期一年的分解试验表明: 不同控雪处理下水曲柳和落叶松的凋落叶年分解率的变化范围分别为51.3%～57.4%和21.7%～31.4%;两者的分解系数(k)变化范围分别为0.048～0.057和0.022～0.030,其中增雪处理的k值最大、除雪处理的k值最小.与对照相比,增雪处理下水曲柳凋落叶50%和95%分解的时间分别缩短了1.1月和4.2月,落叶松则分别缩短了3.7月和15.5月;相反,除雪处理下相应的分解时间分别延长了1.8月和6.4月(水曲柳)及5.0月和21.1月(落叶松).此外,凋落叶分解率与树种、雪深、分解时间、土壤温度等密切相关,但其主要影响因子随分解阶段而异,表现为雪被期主要受土壤温度影响,而随后的无雪期主要受凋落叶初始质量的影响.本研究突显了雪被变化对凋落叶分解有显著的瞬时效应和延迟效应.     

Impact of soil mesofauna on the decomposition of two main species litters in a Pinus koraiensis mixed broad-leaved forest of the Changbai Mountains

In most terrestrial ecosystems, the majority of aboveground net primary productivity enters the decomposition system as plant litter. The decomposition of plant litter plays a critical role in regulating build up of the forest soil organic matter, releasing of nutrients for plant growth, and influencing the carbon cycling. Soil fauna are considered to be an important factor in the acceleration litter decomposition and nutrient transformations. Mechanisms of soil faunal contribution to litter decomposition include digestion of substrates, increase of surface area through fragmentation and acceleration of microbial inoculation into litter. The Pinus koraiensis mixed broad-leaved forest is one of the typical forest vegetation types in Changbai Mountain. Previously, major studies carried here were focused on climate, soil and vegetation; however, on litter decomposition and the role of soil fauna in this forest ecosystem were limited. In this paper, we conducted a litter decomposition experiment using litterbag method to explore the contribution of soil fauna on litter decomposition and provide a scientific basis for maintaining a balanced in P. koraiensis mixed broad-leaved forest in Changbai Mountains. During 2009 and 2010, we used litterbags with different mesh sizes to examine the decomposition of two dominant tree species (P. koraiensis, Fraxinus mandshurica) in studied site. The results showed that the process of litter decomposition can be separated into two apparent stages. The initial decomposition process at former six months was slow, while accelerated the final six months. The former six months (from October 2009 to April 2010) was winter and spring. There was low temperature and almost no activity of soil fauna and microbes. The final six months (from June to October 2010), decomposition rates increased. In summer and autumn, both temperature and moisture increases, abundance of soil fauna was much than before and was most active. The remaining mass of P. koraiensis was higher than that of F. mandshurica in two mesh size litterbags after 1 year decomposition, meanwhile litter in 2 mm mesh size litterbag had higher decomposition rate than that of 0.01 mm for two species litter. The Collembola, Acari, Enchytraeidae Lithobiomorpha and Diptera larvae were mainly fauna groups in the litterbags. The composition of soil fauna community was difference between P. koraiensis and F. mandshurica during litter decomposition. 24 different soil fauna groups and 1431 individual were obtained in P. koraiensis litterbags; Isotomidae, Tomoceridae and Oribatida were dominant groups; while 31 different soil fauna groups and 1255 individual were obtained in F. mandshurica litterbags; Isotomidae, Hypogastruridae Oribatida and Mesostigmata were dominant groups. The rate of litter decomposition was positively correlated with the individual and group density of soil fauna. Contribution rate to litter decomposition was 1.70% for P. koraiensis and 4.83% for F. mandshurica. Repeated measures ANOVA showed that litter species, time and soil fauna had a significant impact on the rate of litter decomposition (P < 0.05). Our results suggested that soil fauna could accelerate litter decomposition and, consequently, nutrient cycling in P. koraiensis mixed broad-leaved forest, Changbai Mountains.     

施入不同土层的秸秆腐殖化特征及对玉米产量的影响

耕作和秸秆还田是打破犁底层、改善黑土肥力的重要措施.本研究利用田间试验,分析了耕作和秸秆还田对秸秆腐殖化系数、总有机质含量(SOC)和玉米产量的影响.结果表明:深耕+秸秆施入20～35 cm(ST+S)能够打破犁底层,与浅耕(TT)、深耕(ST)和浅耕+秸秆还田(TT+S)相比,试验6年间土壤容重平均降低了5.7%、3.3%和5.7%,其中ST和ST+S试验第一年效果最好;试验6年后秸秆腐解率表现为0～20 cm土层(72.0%)>20～35 cm土层(59.2%);0～20和20～35 cm土层秸秆腐殖化系数在试验的第一年达到了最大值,分别为15.9%和12.7%;与初始土壤相比,TT、ST和ST+S处理0～20 cm土层SOC和轻组有机碳(LFOC)含量呈下降趋势,而TT+S处理分别增加了2.9%和12.4%,ST+S处理20～35 cm土层分别增加了9.2%和9.9%;对玉米产量的影响表现为ST+S>TT+S>ST>TT,耕作和秸秆还田的时间效应明显,其中ST处理玉米产量的影响可以持续3年,而ST+S处理可以持续6年.因此,通过耕作的方式将秸秆施入20～35 cm土层是一种有效的、可持续改善黑土质量的农业措施.     

紫色土区不同秸秆还田量对土壤线虫群落的影响

为了研究不同秸秆还田量对紫色土区土壤线虫群落的影响, 作者于2011年5月和9月对川中丘陵区的100% (RMW1)、50%(RMW2)、30%(RMW3)和空白对照(CK)4种秸秆还田量的农田土壤线虫进行了调查。结果发现, 随着秸秆还田量的下降, 土壤线虫的群落结构有一定变化。总体上, 群落密度、食真菌类群和捕食-杂食类群的密度呈波动增加; 食细菌类群的密度持续增加; 植物寄生类群密度、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H')、植物寄生成熟指数(PPI)和瓦斯乐斯卡指数(WI)呈先增加后下降的变化趋势, 且多样性指数在秸秆还田量为30-50%之间最高; 类群数、自由生活成熟指数(MI)、线虫通路比值(CR)则先下降后增加; 所有变化均不显著(P > 0.05)。土壤速效钾含量随秸秆还田量的增加显著提高(P < 0.05), 且与线虫群落多样性指数呈显著负相关(P < 0.05)。研究结果表明, 在紫色土区秸秆还田主要是通过改变土壤钾含量对土壤线虫群落产生影响, 且秸秆还田量在30-50%之间时有利于维持线虫群落多样性。     

凋落物多样性及组成对凋落物分解和土壤微生物群落的影响

凋落物分解是生态系统营养物质循环的核心过程,而土壤微生物群落在凋落物分解过程中扮演着极其重要且不可替代的角色。随着生物多样性的丧失日益严峻,探讨凋落物多样性及组成对凋落物分解和土壤微生物群落的影响,不仅有助于了解凋落物分解的内在机制,而且可为退化草原生态系统的恢复提供参考。以内蒙古呼伦贝尔草原退化恢复群落中的草本植物为研究对象,依据植物多度、盖度、频度和物种的重要值及其在群落中的恢复程度筛选出排序前4的羊草（Leymus chinensis）、茵陈蒿（Artemisia capillaris）、麻花头（Serratula centauroides）、二裂委陵菜（Potentilla bifurca）的凋落物为实验材料,通过设置3种凋落物多样性水平（1,2,4）,包括11种凋落物组合（单物种凋落物共4种,两物种凋落物混合共6种,四物种凋落物混合共1种）,利用磷脂脂肪酸（PLFA）方法来研究分解60 d后凋落物多样性及组成对凋落物分解和土壤微生物群落的影响。结果表明：（1）凋落物物种多样性仅对C残余率具有显著影响,表现在两物种混合凋落物C残余率显著低于单物种凋落物,而凋落物组成对所观测的4个凋落物分解参数（质量、C、N残余率以及C/N）均具有显著影响;（2）凋落物物种多样性对细菌（B）含量具有显著影响,而凋落物组成对真菌（F）含量具有显著影响,两者对F/B以及微生物总量均无显著影响;（3）冗余分析结果表明凋落物组成与凋落物分解相关指标（凋落物质量、C、N残余率及C/N）和土壤微生物（真菌、细菌含量）的相关关系高于凋落物多样性。（4）进一步建立结构方程模型（Structural Equation Model,SEM）发现,凋落物初始C含量对凋落物质量、C、N残余率及C/N有显著正的直接影响;凋落物木质素含量对凋落物质量、C、N残余率有显著正的直接影响;凋落物初始N含量对N残余率有显著正的直接影响,而对C残余率及C/N有显著负的直接影响;凋落物初始C/N对凋落物质量、N残余率有显著正的直接影响,而对C/N有显著负的直接影响。此外,凋落物初始C、N、木质素含量及C/N均对真菌含量具有显著正影响,并可通过真菌对凋落物质量分解产生显著负的间接影响。以上结果表明该退化恢复区域优势种凋落物分解以初始C、木质素为主导,主要通过土壤真菌影响凋落物的分解进程,这将减缓凋落物的分解速率进而减慢草原生态系统的进程。这些结果为凋落物多样性及组成对自身分解和土壤微生物群落的影响提供了实验依据,也为进一步分析凋落物分解内在机制以及草原生态系统的恢复提供了数据参考。     

鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林凋落叶分解与土壤动物群落动态和多样性

2001年12月~2002年12月,采用不同孔径分解凋落叶样袋法,对鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林3类凋落叶的分解进行了研究,并对落叶分解过程中凋落叶袋内和袋下土样中的土壤动物群落和多样性进行了调查。结果表明,3种孔径袋内凋落叶的分解速率为大孔>中孔>微孔;混合凋落叶的分解速率大于单种凋落叶;蜱螨目在凋落叶分解的整个过程中相对数量都较高,弹尾目在凋落叶的分解过程中在凋落叶袋和土壤间移动,数量变化较大。凋落叶袋内大、中型土壤动物的个体数量在分解前期较多,中、小型土壤动物在分解的中期数量剧增;凋落叶袋内土壤动物的个体数量、密度以及多样性指数都随着落叶的分解而增加,9月最高;土壤样内则在分解的前期较高,以后逐渐降低。凋落叶的分解和土壤动物群落动态及多样性受凋落叶基质质量以及样地温度、降雨量等综合因素的影响。     

Impacts of litter and understory removal on soil properties in a subtropical Acacia mangium plantation in China

In forest ecosystems, the effects of litter or understory on soil properties are far from being fully understood. We conducted a study in a pure Acacia mangium Willd. plantation in southern China, by removing litter or understory or both components and then comparing these treatments with a control (undisturbed), to evaluate their respective effects on soil physical, chemical and biological properties. In addition, a litter decomposition experiment was conducted to understand the effects of understory on litter decomposition. Our data showed that the presence of understory favored litter decomposition to a large extent. In 1 year, 75.2 and 37.2% of litter were decomposed in the control and understory removal treatment (UR), respectively. Litter had a profound significance in retaining soil water and contributing to soil fertility, including organic matter (OM), available phosphorus (P) and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (N), but understory exerted less influence than litter on soil physical and chemical properties. Both litter and understory played an important role in soil biological activity as indicated by microbial biomass carbon (MBC), while there were no significant impacts on soil exchangeable potassium (K) after either or both were removed. Contrary to our hypothesis, the effects of understory or litter removal were not always negative. A significant soil pH increase with litter removal was a positive factor for acid soil in the studied site. Except for soil moisture, significant effects, caused by removal of litter or/and understory, on measured soil chemical characteristics were only observed in the top 10 cm soil layer, but not in the 10–20 cm layer. Soil available P and exchangeable K contents were significantly higher in the rainy season than in the dry season, however, for the other soil properties, not substantially affected by season.     

Microbiota, fauna, and mesh size interactions in litter decomposition

Plant litter decomposition is a key process in carbon and nutrient cycling. The critical role of soil-faunal community composition in decomposition has been demonstrated using different mesh size litterbags to control exposure of litter to different faunal size classes. However, the faunal community surrounding the litterbags has not been manipulated despite potentially large indirect effects of their activity on biotic and abiotic processes that control litter decomposition at the habitat-scale.
We combined microcosm and litterbag techniques to facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the role of direct and indirect effects of soil-faunal community composition on litter decomposition. We placed litterbags of three mesh sizes across model grassland miniecosystems manipulated to enable communities containing 1) microfauna; 2) micro- and meso-fauna; 3) micro-, meso- and macro-fauna. All communities contained bacteria and fungi. The approach permitted correction of mesh size artefacts inherent to field studies. Indirect effects have been divided into two separate terms, direct-indirect effects and indirect effects.
Decomposition in micromesh litterbags was significantly decreased by the indirect effects of meso- and macro-fauna. In macrofauna communities, increased mesh size significantly increased decomposition through mesh size per se and faunal effects. Relative effects of manipulated faunal community composition on litter mass loss and C:N ratio were equivalent for green and senesced litter. The presence of meso- and macro-fauna increased litter decomposition rate overall despite inhibiting decomposition by microfauna, bacteria and fungi through indirect effects.     

陆地生态系统凋落物分解对全球气候变暖的响应

陆地生态系统凋落物分解是全球碳收支的一个重要组成部分, 主要受气候、凋落物质量和土壤生物群落的综合控制。科学家们普遍认为全球气候变化将对陆地生态系统凋落物分解产生复杂而深远的影响。该文结合凋落物分解试验的常用方法——缩微试验、原位模拟实验和自然环境梯度实验, 归纳现有研究结果, 意在揭示全球气候变化对陆地生态系统凋落物分解的直接影响(温度对凋落物分解速率的影响)和间接影响(温度对凋落物质量、土壤微生物群落及植被型的影响)的普遍规律。各种研究方法都表明: 在水分条件理想的情况下, 温度升高往往能加快凋落物的分解速率; 原位模拟实验中, 凋落物分解速率因物种、增温方法和地理方位而异; 全球气候变化能改变凋落物质量, 但可能不会在短期内影响凋落物的分解速率; 凋落物质量和可分解性的种间差异远大于增温所引发的表型响应差异, 那么, 气候变化所引发的植物群落结构和物种组成的变化将对陆地生态系统凋落物分解产生更强烈的影响; 土壤生物群落如何响应全球气候变化, 进而怎样影响凋落物分解过程, 这些都还存在着极大的不确定性。     

Effects of leachate from understory medicinal plants on litter decomposition and soil enzyme activities of Betula albo-sinensis and Eucommia ulmoides

Aims Forest litter decomposition is an important factor affecting nutrient cycling and ecosystem stability. In a complex system with forest and understory medicinal plants, leachate from the medicinal plants enriched in plant secondary metabolites (PSM) may inhibit litter decomposition and soil enzyme activity of forest trees. Thus, inspection on whether or not this phenomenon exits is one important basis for selecting understory medicinal plants.Methods In this paper, typical forest species Betula albo-sinensis and Eucommia ulmoides and six species of common medicinal plants (Corydalis bungeana, Mentha haplocalyx, Houttuynia cordata, Nepeta cataria, Gynostemma pentaphyllum and Prunella vulgaris) in Qinling Mountains area were taken as objects, and the litter decomposition experiment was carried out. The leachate (water-extraction solution) from the stems and leaves of the medicinal materials were sprayed onto the litter in order to study the effects of leachate from understory plants on forests litter decomposition, nutrient release (carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus) and soil enzyme activity.Important findings For litter of B. albo-sinensis, the decomposition half-life and the turnover period were extended by 76% and 4.3 times, respectively, under H. cordata leachate treatment and the inhibitory effects on the release of carbon and nitrogen were also significant. While under G. pentaphyllum leachate treatment, the half-life of litter decomposition and turnover period were extended by 35% and 2.7 times, respectively, and the inhibitory effects on the release of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus were all significant. The leachate from these two species of medicinal plants displayed significant inhibitory effects on seven kinds of soil enzymes (invertase, carboxymethyl cellulase, β-glucosidase, dehydrogenase, polyphenol oxidase, protease and phosphatase) activity. For litter of E. ulmoides, the decomposition half-life and the turnover period were extended by 1.7 times and 4.2 times respectively, under H. cordata leachate treatment; while they were extended by 1 times and 9 times respectively, under G. pentaphyllum leachate treatment. The leachate from these two species of medicinal plants displayed significant inhibitory effects on the release of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus from litter decomposition and the activities of all seven kinds of soil enzymes. Therefore, results suggested that H. cordata and G. pentaphyllum should not be planted under B. albo-sinensis and E. ulmoides forests, or the interplanting density must be low to reduce the inhibitory effects of litter decomposition.     

Response of soil microbial communities to changes in a forest ecosystem brought about by pine wilt disease

Japan has suffered a lot from forestry losses due to pine wilt disease caused by pinewood nematode infestations. Studies were conducted regarding its causative agent and the effects of natural vegetation succession after pine wilt disease, but its effects on microorganisms were not given equal attention. This study determined the effects of pine wilt disease on light conditions, soil microbial biomass, litter decomposition, microbial abundance and the physical and chemical properties of the soil. Results showed that in a forest currently affected by pine wilt disease, there was higher light penetration, greater microbial biomass carbon, and a faster rate of litter decomposition. Microbial abundance was shown to be reduced in pine wilt affected areas. There were close correlations between the biological and physicochemical properties of the soil, but the reason for the decrease in microbial abundance is not yet well understood, and thus requires further study.     

Do soil organisms affect aboveground litter decomposition in the semiarid Patagonian steppe, Argentina?

Surface litter decomposition in arid and semiarid ecosystems is often faster than predicted by climatic parameters such as annual precipitation or evapotranspiration, or based on standard indices of litter quality such as lignin or nitrogen concentrations. Abiotic photodegradation has been demonstrated to be an important factor controlling aboveground litter decomposition in aridland ecosystems, but soil fauna, particularly macrofauna such as termites and ants, have also been identified as key players affecting litter mass loss in warm deserts. Our objective was to quantify the importance of soil organisms on surface litter decomposition in the Patagonian steppe in the absence of photodegradative effects, to establish the relative importance of soil organisms on rates of mass loss and nitrogen release. We estimated the relative contribution of soil fauna and microbes to litter decomposition of a dominant grass using litterboxes with variable mesh sizes that excluded groups of soil fauna based on size class (10, 2, and 0.01 mm), which were placed beneath shrub canopies. We also employed chemical repellents (naphthalene and fungicide). The exclusion of macro- and mesofauna had no effect on litter mass loss over 3 years (P = 0.36), as litter decomposition was similar in all soil fauna exclusions and naphthalene-treated litter. In contrast, reduction of fungal activity significantly inhibited litter decomposition (P < 0.001). Although soil fauna have been mentioned as a key control of litter decomposition in warm deserts, biogeographic legacies and temperature limitation may constrain the importance of these organisms in temperate aridlands, particularly in the southern hemisphere.