Fate of organic carbon during decomposition of different litter types in Japan

Carbon dynamics during litter decomposition have been described in a variety of forest ecosystems and provided insights into carbon flow in soils. To quantitatively assess how decomposition processes vary between litter types, solid-state ¹³C cross-polarization and magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CPMAS NMR) technique was applied to analyze conifer (cedar, cypress) and hardwood (chinquapin, beech, oak, birch) litter which had degraded during a 3 year litterbag experiment throughout Japan. The results were used to identify compositional changes and estimate decomposition constants (k values) in exponential equations. Total litter and carbon type mass losses during decomposition varied significantly between litter types, being affected by the initial physicochemical litter quality. Concomitant increases and decreases in carbonyl and O/N-alkyl C compositions, respectively, were observed for all litter types, but aromatic and aliphatic C dynamics were less consistent. In hardwoods, [aromatic/aliphatic C ratio] was generally stable during decomposition, suggesting that, in hardwoods, the decomposabilities of aromatic and aliphatic C were similar. In the conifers, an increasing [aromatic/aliphatic C ratio] during decomposition suggested that aromatic C was more recalcitrant than aliphatic C. These results suggest that different decomposition processes between litter types might be related to different aromatic and aliphatic C behaviors, as affected by lignin stability and lipid leachability and biosynthesis. Variations in the k values for total litter and carbon types were not obvious between litter types, although the mass loss patterns differed significantly. The k values estimated in this study may contribute to predictions of soil carbon dynamics and the validation of carbon compartment models in forest ecosystems.     

Mixed leaf litter effects on decomposition rates and soil microarthropod communities in an oak–pine stand in Japan

Rates of decomposition, and soil faunal abundance and diversity associated with single-species and mixed-species litters were studied in a litter bag experiment in an oak–pine forest. We used two canopy species of leaf litter, pine and oak, and one shrub species, Sasa, and compared decomposition rates, and soil microarthropod abundance and community structure of oribatid mites in the litter bags. Mass loss of single species decreased in the order: oak > pine > Sasa. While the total mass loss rates of mixed litter were intermediate between those of the constituent species, enhancement of mass loss from the three-species mixture and from mixed slow-decomposing litters (pine and Sasa) was observed. Faunal abundance in litter bags was higher in mixed-species litter than in those with single-species litter, and species richness of oribatid mites was also higher in the three-species mixed litter. Faunal abundance in single-species litter bags was not correlated with mass loss, although enhancement of mass loss in mixed litter bags corresponded with higher microarthropod abundance. Habitat heterogeneity in mixed litter bags seemed to be responsible for the more abundant soil microarthropod community.     

Leaf Litter Disappearance in Earthworm-Invaded Northern Hardwood Forests: Role of Tree Species and the Chemistry and Diversity of Litter

Earthworm invasion in North American temperate forest reduces forest floor mass, yet the interactions between litter composition, invasive earthworm community composition, and forest floor structure and composition are not well understood. For 2?years, we compared disappearance of leaf litter in field mesocosms in which we manipulated litter composition (monocultures of Quercus rubra, Acer saccharum, and Tilia americana litter, and an equal mixture of all three) and thereby the initial litter chemistry (C, C fractions, N, Ca) in sites with and without the major litter-feeding invasive earthworm species. The disappearance of litter mass followed the same ranking at both the sites: T. americana?>?equal mixtures?>?A. saccharum?≥?Q. rubra. However, differences in disappearance rate between the sites depended on litter composition and time. The differences in mass loss among litters of different compositions were greatest at the site invaded by the large litter-feeding earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, and especially for T. americana and the mixture. Similarly, observed disappearance of the litter mixture was faster than predicted by an additive model at the site with L. terrestris, especially for the higher quality litter component in early summer. Initial litter calcium content was the best predictor (R ²?≥?0.90) of overall litter mass remaining each year, supporting the idea of the importance of calcium in forest floor dynamics, especially in the presence of calciferous, invasive earthworms.     

Decomposition and nutrient dynamics in mixed litter of Mediterranean species

In the last decade a great research effort addressed the effects of litter diversity on ecosystem functions, reporting both synergistic and antagonistic effects for decomposition dynamics. Four coexisting Mediterranean species, representing a range of litter quality, were used to arrange litter mixtures at three diversity levels for a litterbag decomposition experiment. Species identity appeared as the major determinant for litter mass loss (Coronilla emerus～Hedera helix>Festuca drymeia>Quercus ilex) and nutrient release, with rates for all leaf litter types following the sequence K>N>Mg≥Ca>>Fe. Additive diversity effects were prevalent pooling together all data but also for nutrients separately. Antagonistic interactions were more common than synergistic in the cases of mass loss, N and Ca contents, but not for K, Mg and Fe dynamics. The number of species in the litterbag significantly affected the outcome of non-additive interactions, which were mostly antagonistic for two-species mixtures, and synergistic for the combined 4 species. Litter quality appears to be the most important factor affecting mass loss and nutrient dynamics, while litter diversity, influencing the rates of these processes, plays an important role in reducing their variability, thus suggesting a greater stability of ecosystems properties in presence of mixed litter.     

Characterization and chemodynamics of plant constituents during maturation,senescence and humus genesis in spruce ecosystems

Spruce needles of different age, litter materials and soil samples from the L-, O-and A-horizons of a mor profile were analysed by temperature-programmed pyrolysis (Py) in combination with field ionization mass spectrometry (FIMS). The integrated Py-FI mass spectra give characteristic fingerprints of the biomaterials investigated. The application of principal component analysis to the mass spectral data results in a clear discrimination and classification of the samples reflecting the chemical modifications and transformations of organic matter by biochemical and biogeochemical processes. The chemical compositions are determined by processes such as enrichment and/or translocation of plant constituents (e.g. carbohydrates, lignin, lipids, suberin, and aliphatic polymers) during maturation and senescence of needles; amendment of new components; decomposition; selective preservation and humification processes in the soil environment.During needle maturation, major chemical changes include the decrease of carbohydrate content, condensation of lignin, and crosslinking of waxes. Senescent needles are characterized by lower contents of carbohydrates and lower yields of monomeric pyrolysis products from lignin. The contribution of different litter materials to the humus layer can be estimated by differences in chemical composition. During litter decomposition and humification on the forest floor, carbohydrate content decreases rapidly. The lignin content remains almost constant but some subunits are continuously oxidized. Wax material accumulates until the mechnical disintegration of the needle occurs. In the O-horizons polymeric aliphatic materials are enriched in humified plant remains. A constant increase of aryl-alkyl esters from suberin in the O-horizons is due to both root input and selective preservation. In general, mainly aliphatic polymers and aryl-alkyl esters accumulate during the genesis of mor profiles under conifers.     

Mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQ1 accelerates maturation in Campbell dwarf hamsters (Phodopus campbelli)

We tested two hypotheses. 1) SkQ1 positively affects postnatal development of hamsters in litters born to parents receiving long-term SkQ1 treatment. 2) SkQ1 accelerates maturation of juvenile females receiving the antioxidant treatment from 10 days of age. Parental pairs were kept in an outdoor vivarium under conditions close to natural. At the age of 25 days, juvenile males in litters born to parents treated daily with SkQ1 (50 nmol/kg per os) had higher epididymis mass. Both the size of a litter and SkQ1 affected epididymis mass in young males. Both the litter size and SkQ1 affected uterus mass in 25-day-old females. Juvenile females who received SkQ1 treatment from 10 days of age demonstrated earlier opening of the vagina. This experiment was replicated with the same result. At the age of 2.5 months, virgin females treated with SkQ1 from the early age demonstrated higher ovary mass.     

荒漠草原4种典型植物群落枯落物分解速率及影响因素

测定荒漠草原甘草、赖草、蒙古冰草以及黑沙蒿等植物群落枯落物分解过程中质量损失量分析荒漠草原枯落物分解速,同时通过枯落物自身化学成份、含水率的测定,结合气候因子进行偏相关分析,探讨荒漠草原枯落物分解的影响因素。结果表明:荒漠草原4种植物群落枯落物的质量累积损失率随分解时间的延长而增加,但枯落物分解的质量损失量与时间并不呈线性相关;4种群落枯落物质量损失量大小依次均为:甘草群落赖草群落蒙古冰草群落黑沙蒿群落;荒漠草原枯落物分解采用单指数衰减的Olson模型拟合效果较好,4种植物群落中甘草群落枯落物分解最快,黑沙蒿群落分解最慢;蒙古冰草、赖草和甘草群落枯落物中N、P、K的含量显著高于黑沙蒿群落,但是C、木质素、纤维素、C/N、木质素/N和纤维素/N值则显著低于黑沙蒿群落枯落物,蒙古冰草群落、甘草群落、赖草群落和黑沙蒿群落4种群落枯落物分解速率(k)与枯落物初始N、P、K含量均呈显著正相关;偏相关分析表明,4种植物群落枯落物分解速率与降雨量、枯落物自身含水量的偏相关系数达显著水平,其余因子偏相关系数均未达显著水平。结合上述研究可以确定荒漠草原枯落物分解50%所需时间为2—5a,分解95%需8—24a。     

茂兰喀斯特森林退化区凋落物的分解动态

为了解亚热带气候型的茂兰喀斯特森林退化区次生林和灌木林的凋落物分解动态过程,该研究采用分解袋法,对茂兰喀斯特森林退化区不同类型的凋落物在不同坡位的分解状况进行了为期18个月的观测,并通过分析凋落物分解时的失重量和失重率的动态变化,比较了次生林和灌木林的凋落叶的失重率变化,探讨了不同坡位对凋落物分解的影响。结果表明:各种类型凋落物的分解速率和失重率在退化区内存在明显的差异,落叶>常绿叶>枯枝(P<0.05),三种凋落物整体变化趋势在分解过程中大致相同,它们在早期都快速分解,中期分解变慢,后期开始加速;落叶在次生林与灌木林中的前期分解速率基本同步,后期为灌木林落叶>次生林落叶,而常绿叶在灌木林与次生林中的分解速率则表现为基本同步;利用回归方程对凋落叶分解50%和95%所需时间进行估测,得出落叶和常绿叶在灌木林中分解50%和95%所需时间少于次生林的;在不同坡位,三种凋落物分解速率的总体趋势为中坡>上坡;三种凋落物的C含量波动性较大,但总体变化趋势是随分解时间的增加而减少,随着分解时间增加,N含量增加,而C/N比则降低。     

Degradability, molecular weight and adsorption properties of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen leached from different types of decomposing litter

Aims

We characterized dissolved organic matter (DOM) leached during decomposition of deciduous silver birch litter (Betula pendula Roth.), coniferous Norway spruce litter (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and a mixture of these litters in order to find out whether the properties of DOM would explain the earlier observed signs for higher microbial activity in soil under birch than spruce.

Methods

DOM leached from decomposing litters was collected in a litter-column experiment in the laboratory. Adsorption properties (XAD-8 resin fractionation) and molecular weight as well as the degradability of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) were measured three times during decomposition: 1) in the early stages, 2) after the mass loss reached 20–30 % and 3) when the mass loss reached 30–40 %.

Results

The leaching of DOC hydrophilic neutrals and bases, regarded easily degradable, decreased during decomposition. The leaching of DOC in hydrophobic acids, regarded refractory, increased from spruce and especially from the mixture litter during decomposition and may be connected to the degree of litter decomposition that was highest for the mixture. Unexpectedly, the degradability of DOC differed only slightly between the litters but the degradability of DON was substantially higher for spruce than birch. Spruce DOM seemed to be more N-rich than birch DOM in the early stages of decomposition and it seemed that labile DON was mobilized earlier from spruce than birch litter.

Conclusions

We conclude that the decomposition degree of litter determines largely the properties of DOM. The observed differences in the properties of DOM sampled during the litter decomposition cannot explain differences in C and N cycling between birch and spruce.     

Mixing effects on litter decomposition rates in a young tree diversity experiment

Litter decomposition is an essential process for biogeochemical cycling and for the formation of new soil organic matter. Mixing litter from different tree species has been reported to increase litter decomposition rates through synergistic effects. We assessed the decomposition rates of leaf litter from five tree species in a recently established tree diversity experiment on a post-agriculture site in Belgium. We used 20 different leaf litter compositions with diversity levels ranging from 1 up to 4 species. Litter mass loss in litterbags was assessed 10, 20, 25, 35, and 60 weeks after installation in the field. We found that litter decomposition rates were higher for high-quality litters, i.e., with high nitrogen content and low lignin content. The decomposition rates of mixed litter were more affected by the identity of the litter species within the mixture than by the diversity of the litter per se, but the variability in litter decomposition rates decreased as the litter diversity increased. Among the 15 different mixed litter compositions in our study, only three litter combinations showed synergistic effects. Our study suggests that admixing tree species with high-quality litter in post-agricultural plantations helps in increasing the mixture's early-stage litter decomposition rate.     

Changes in litter decomposition and soil organic carbon in a reforested tropical deciduous cover (India)

Soil organic carbon (SOC) up to 1 m depth originates from contemporary vegetation cover dating from past millennia. Deforestation and reforestation with economically important species is influencing soil carbon sequestration. An attempt has been made in this study to evaluate the impact of vegetation cover change (due to replacement of natural heterogeneous cover by teak and bamboo) on SOC using carbon isotopes (δ¹³C, ¹⁴C) in a tropical system (India). A litter decomposition study was carried out to understand the impact of differences in vegetation characteristics (specifically of leaves) on decomposition. Both experiments were carried out to look at the impact of changes in vegetation characteristics (specifically of leaves) on litter decomposition, and how these influence near term litter decomposition rates (k values) and long-term SOC content of the soil system beneath. Leaves of teak, bamboo and eight other species were selected for this study. The proportion of structural carbohydrates (lignin and cellulose) in leaves significantly (at 5 % level) influenced k values. The SOC and carbon isotope data collected in this study indicate that C₃ vegetation cover in the study area could be contemporary and dominant for the past few centuries. This can be extended up to ~2,200 years from the recorded ¹⁴C values of teak cover. The study confirms that k values of leaf litter influence SOC present beneath the vegetation cover at the decadal/century time scale.     

Litter decomposition of a pine plantation is affected by species evenness and soil nitrogen availability

Background and aims

Litter decomposition is a key process controlling flows of energy and nutrients in ecosystems. Altered biodiversity and nutrient availability may affect litter decomposition. However, little is known about the response of litter decomposition to co-occurring changes in species evenness and soil nutrient availability.

Methods

We used a microcosm experiment to evaluate the simultaneous effects of species evenness (two levels), identity of the dominant species (three species) and soil N availability (control and N addition) on litter decomposition in a Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) plantation in Northeast China. Mongolian pine needles and senesced aboveground materials of two dominant understory species (Setaria viridis and Artemisia scoparia) were used for incubation.

Results

Litter evenness, dominant species identity and N addition significantly affected species interaction and litter decomposition. Higher level of species evenness increased the decomposition rate of litter mixtures and decreased the incidence of antagonistic effects. A. scoparia-dominated litter mixtures decomposed faster than P. sylvestris var. mongolica- and S. viridis-dominated litter mixtures. Notably, N addition increased decomposition rate of both single-species litters and litter mixtures, and meanwhile altered the incidence and direction of non-additive effects during decomposition of litter mixtures. The presence of understory species litters stimulated the decomposition rate of pine litters irrespective of N addition, whereas the presence of pine litters suppressed the mass loss of A. scoparia litters. Moreover, N addition weakened the promoting effects of understory species litters on decomposition of pine litters.

Conclusions

Pine litter retarded the decomposition of understory species litters whereas its own decomposition was accelerated in mixtures. Nitrogen addition and understory species evenness altered species interaction through species-specific responses in litter mixtures and thus affected litter decomposition in Mongolian pine forests, which could produce a potential influence on ecosystem C budget and nutrient cycling.     

Leaf Litter Consumption by Macroarthropods and Burial of their Faeces Enhance Decomposition in a Mediterranean Ecosystem

In many terrestrial ecosystems, large amounts of leaf litter are consumed by macroarthropods. Most of it is deposited as faeces that are easily transferred into deeper soil layers. However, the decomposition of this large pool of organic matter remains poorly studied. We addressed the question of how leaf litter transformation into macroarthropod faeces, and their burial in the soil, affect organic matter decomposition in a Mediterranean dry shrubland. We compared mass loss of intact leaf litter of two dominant shrub species (Quercus coccifera, Cistus albidus) with that of leaf litter-specific faeces from the abundant millipede Ommatoiulus sabulosus. Leaf litter and faeces were exposed in the field for 1 year, either on the soil surface or buried at 5 cm soil depth. Chemical and physical quality of faeces differed strongly from that of leaf litter, but distinctively between the two shrub species. On the soil surface, faeces decomposed faster than intact leaf litter in Quercus, but at similar rates in Cistus. When buried in the soil, faeces and leaf litter decomposed at similar rates in either species, but significantly faster compared to the soil surface, most likely because of higher moisture within the soil enhancing microbial activity. The combined effects of leaf litter transformation into faeces and their subsequent burial in the topsoil led to a 1.5-fold increase in the annual mass loss. These direct and indirect macroarthropod effects on ecosystem-scale decomposition are likely more widespread than currently acknowledged, and may play a particularly important role in drought-influenced ecosystems.     

Functional Groups Determine Biochar Properties (pH and EC) as Studied by Two-Dimensional 13C NMR Correlation Spectroscopy

While the properties of biochar are closely related to its functional groups, it is unclear under what conditions biochar develops its properties. In this study, two-dimensional (2D) ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) correlation spectroscopy was for the first time applied to investigate the development of functional groups and establish their relationship with biochar properties. The results showed that the agricultural biomass carbonized to biochars was a dehydroxylation/dehydrogenation and aromatization process, mainly involving the cleavage of O-alkylated carbons and anomeric O-C-O carbons in addition to the production of fused-ring aromatic structures and aromatic C-O groups. With increasing charring temperature, the mass cleavage of O-alkylated groups and anomeric O-C-O carbons occurred prior to the production of fused-ring aromatic structures. The regression analysis between functional groups and biochar properties (pH and electrical conductivity) further demonstrated that the pH and electrical conductivity of rice straw derived biochars were mainly determined by fused-ring aromatic structures and anomeric O-C-O carbons, but the pH of rice bran derived biochars was determined by both fused-ring aromatic structures and aliphatic O-alkylated (HCOH) carbons. In summary, this work suggests a novel tool for characterising the development of functional groups in biochars.     

互花米草盐沼土壤有机碳库组分及结构特征

在江苏盐城互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)盐沼建立以下样地:光滩(Mudflat)、互花米草建群1a(S.alterniflora flat 2011)、5a(S.alterniflora flat 2007)、12a(S.alterniflora flat 2000)、23a(S.alterniflora flat 1989)以及碱蓬(Suaeda salsa flat 1989),采集表层土壤样品,分析土壤中的活性有机碳(可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳)特征,并利用核磁共振波谱法测定土壤总有机碳的结构图谱,研究互花米草盐沼土壤有机碳库组分及结构特征。结果表明:(1)互花米草建群后,盐沼表层土壤有机碳含量显著增加(P0.05),在0.82—7.6 g/kg之间,各样地表层土壤有机碳含量为:互花米草滩(5.57 g/kg)碱蓬滩(2.4 g/kg)光滩(1.05 g/kg);可溶性有机碳含量为:互花米草滩(36.08 mg/kg)碱蓬滩(17.43 mg/kg)光滩(6.92 mg/kg);微生物量碳含量为:互花米草滩(52.51 mg/kg)碱蓬滩(18.27 mg/kg)光滩(13.56 mg/kg)。互花米草建群后,土壤中活性碳库含量显著增加(P0.05)。(2)土壤有机碳结构以烷氧碳和芳香碳为主,其中芳香碳的平均比例(35.85%)最高,其次为烷氧碳(32.83%)和羧基碳(20.62%),烷基碳的平均比例(10.36%)最低,其中建群5a的互花米草样地(SAF2007)土壤芳香碳、烷氧碳、烷基碳含量最高,建群23a的互花米草样地(SAF1989)土壤羧基碳含量最高。(3)互花米草盐沼土壤中烷基碳/烷氧碳为:SAF2007(0.44)SSF1989(0.43)SAF2000(0.28)SAF2011(0.27)SAF1989(0.22);疏水碳/亲水碳为:SAF2007(0.97)SSF1989(0.87)SAF2000(0.85)SAF2011(0.83)SAF1989(0.81)。烷基碳/烷氧碳在建群5a后达到最高值0.44,烷基化程度最高;疏水碳/亲水碳达到最高值0.97,土壤碳库稳定性高于其它样地。     

Soil Moisture Alters the Response of Soil Organic Carbon Mineralization to Litter Addition

Increasing rainfall and longer drought conditions lead to frequent changes in soil moisture that affect soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization. However, how soil moisture affects response of SOC mineralization to litter addition in forest ecosystems remains unexplored. We added ¹³C-labeled litter to subtropical forest soils with three mass water contents (L, 21%; M, 33%; H, 45%). Carbon dioxide production was monitored, and the composition of soil microbial communities was determined by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA). When no litter was added, SOC mineralization was greater in the M-treated soil. Litter addition promoted SOC mineralization, but this promotion was altered by soil moisture and litter type. Priming effects induced by P. massoniana leaf litter in the M-moistened soil were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those in other treatments. Litter-derived C was approximately 55% incorporated into 18:1ω9c and 16:0 PLFAs, and this proportion was not significantly affected by soil moisture. Soil moisture affected the distribution of litter-¹³C in i15:0, i17:0, and cy19:0 individual PLFAs. The primed C evolution was significantly related to the ratio of Gram-positive to Gram-negative bacteria. These results suggest that changes in soil moisture could affect SOC mineralization in forest ecosystems.     

雪被斑块对川西亚高山森林6种凋落叶冬季腐殖化的影响

亚高山森林凋落叶腐殖化是联系植物与土壤碳库和养分库的重要通道, 在冬季可能受到雪被斑块的影响。该文采用凋落物网袋法, 于2012年11月-2013年4月研究了川西亚高山森林不同厚度雪被斑块(厚雪被、中雪被、薄雪被和无雪被)下优势树种岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)、方枝柏(Sabina saltuaria)、四川红杉(Larix mastersiana)、红桦(Betula albo-sinensis)、康定柳(Salix paraplesia)和高山杜鹃(Rhododendron lapponicum)凋落叶在不同雪被关键期(雪被形成期、雪被覆盖期和雪被融化期)的腐殖化特征。结果表明: 亚高山森林冬季不同厚度雪被斑块下6种凋落叶均保持一定程度的腐殖化, 其中红桦凋落叶腐殖化度最大, 达4.45%-5.67%; 岷江冷杉、高山杜鹃、康定柳、四川红杉和方枝柏凋落叶腐殖化度分别为1.91%-2.15%、1.14%-2.03%、1.06%-1.97%、0.01%-1.25%和0.39%-1.21%。凋落叶腐殖质在雪被形成期、融化期和整个冬季累积, 且累积量随雪被厚度减小而增加, 但在雪被覆盖期降解, 且降解量随雪被厚度减小而增大。相关分析结果表明, 亚高山森林凋落叶前期腐殖化主要受凋落叶质量影响, 且与氮和酸不溶性组分呈极显著正相关, 而与碳、磷、水溶性和有机溶性组分呈极显著负相关。表明冬季变暖情景下雪被厚度的减小可能促进亚高山森林凋落叶腐殖化, 但凋落叶腐殖化在不同雪被关键期受雪被斑块和凋落叶质量的调控。     

Effects of snowpack on early foliar litter humification during winter in a subalpine forest of western Sichuan

亚高山森林凋落叶腐殖化是联系植物与土壤碳库和养分库的重要通道, 在冬季可能受到雪被斑块的影响。该文采用凋落物网袋法, 于2012年11月-2013年4月研究了川西亚高山森林不同厚度雪被斑块(厚雪被、中雪被、薄雪被和无雪被)下优势树种岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)、方枝柏(Sabina saltuaria)、四川红杉(Larix mastersiana)、红桦(Betula albo-sinensis)、康定柳(Salix paraplesia)和高山杜鹃(Rhododendron lapponicum)凋落叶在不同雪被关键期(雪被形成期、雪被覆盖期和雪被融化期)的腐殖化特征。结果表明: 亚高山森林冬季不同厚度雪被斑块下6种凋落叶均保持一定程度的腐殖化, 其中红桦凋落叶腐殖化度最大, 达4.45%-5.67%; 岷江冷杉、高山杜鹃、康定柳、四川红杉和方枝柏凋落叶腐殖化度分别为1.91%-2.15%、1.14%-2.03%、1.06%-1.97%、0.01%-1.25%和0.39%-1.21%。凋落叶腐殖质在雪被形成期、融化期和整个冬季累积, 且累积量随雪被厚度减小而增加, 但在雪被覆盖期降解, 且降解量随雪被厚度减小而增大。相关分析结果表明, 亚高山森林凋落叶前期腐殖化主要受凋落叶质量影响, 且与氮和酸不溶性组分呈极显著正相关, 而与碳、磷、水溶性和有机溶性组分呈极显著负相关。表明冬季变暖情景下雪被厚度的减小可能促进亚高山森林凋落叶腐殖化, 但凋落叶腐殖化在不同雪被关键期受雪被斑块和凋落叶质量的调控。     

Higher accumulation capacity of cadmium than zinc by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis halleri ssp. germmifera</Emphasis> in the field using different sowing strategies

Background and Aims

Litter decomposition serves an important role in maintaining nitrogen (N) availability within forest ecosystems. However, the interactive effects of exogenous N, drought, and litter quality and mixing on N immobilization during decomposition remain unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of litter quality, reduced precipitation, N addition, and their interactions on litter mass loss and N immobilization.

Methods

This field study analyzed the effects of N addition and decreased precipitation on the decomposition rates and associated N immobilization of four types of litter: Quercus mongolica (QM), Tilia amurensis (TA), Pinus koraiensis (PK), and a mixture (MIX) of all three. The chemical quality of the MIX was prepared in a 4:3:3 (mass) ratio of PK, TA, and QM litters. Litterbags were placed in an N addition and precipitation manipulation forest field and collected after 92, 154, 365, 457, and 874 days. Decomposing litter residues were characterized for mass loss and N content to assess N immobilization.

Results

The addition of N had no significant effect on litter decomposition under both precipitation conditions, but a reduction in precipitation significantly depressed litter decomposition. The increases in N immobilization with N addition depended on the litter type and decomposition period. Precipitation reduction had significant effects on N immobilization and enhanced the magnitude and duration of N immobilization in decomposing litter, and both of which can be increased by N addition. The results indicate that the litter species is the major regulator that controls mass loss and N immobilization. Furthermore, the MIX treatment did not show non-additive effects on mass loss but did exhibit some weak synergistic effects on N immobilization.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that decomposing litters could help to sequester N depending on the litter identity and water regime in temperate forest ecosystems.

     

Nature and nurture in the dynamics of C, N and P during litter decomposition in Canadian forests

We measured changes in carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations and mass of 10 foliar litters decomposing over 12 years at 21 sites across Canada, ranging from subarctic to temperate, to evaluate the influence of litter quality (nature) and forest floor (nurture) on N and P dynamics. Most litters lost P faster than N, relative to C, except in one litter which had a high initial C:P quotient (2,122). Net N loss occurred at mass C:N quotients of between 33 and 68, positively correlated with the C:N quotient in the original litter, and net P loss likely occurred at C:P quotients between 800 and 1,200. Forest floor properties also influenced N and P dynamics: the higher the C:N or C:P quotient in the surface soil organic matter, the smaller the proportion of initial N or P left in the decomposing litter, relative to C. There was a convergence of C:N and C:P quotients as the litters decomposed, with an overall mass ratio of 427:17:1 when the litters reached 20% original C remaining. These results, covering a wide range of sites and litters and thus decomposition rates, showed that the C:N:P quotients followed similar trajectories and converged as the litters decomposed. The relative loss of N and P was affected by both the initial litter nutrient concentration and the chemistry of the site forest floor, with the former being more important than the latter, resulting in spatial variations in nutrient content of the forest floor.