Effects of grassland species on decomposition of litter and soil microbial communities

Decomposition of litter is greatly influenced not only by its chemical composition but also by activities of soil decomposers. By using leaf litter from 15 plant species collected from semi-natural and improved grasslands, we examined (1) how interspecific differences in the chemical composition of litter influence the abundance and composition of soil bacterial and fungal communities and (2) how such changes in microbial communities are related to the processes of decomposition. The litter from each species was incubated in soil of a standard composition for 60 days under controlled conditions. After incubation, the structure of bacterial and fungal communities in the soil was examined using phospholipid fatty-acid analysis and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Species from improved grasslands had significantly higher rates of nitrogen mineralization and decomposition than those from semi-natural grasslands because the former were richer in nitrogen. Litter from improved grasslands was also richer in Gram-positive bacteria, whereas that from semi-natural grasslands was richer in actinomycetes and fungi. Nitrogen content of litter also influenced the composition of the fungal community. Changes in the composition of both bacterial and fungal communities were closely related to the rate of litter decomposition. These results suggest that plant species greatly influence litter decomposition not only through influencing the quality of substrate but also through changing the composition of soil microbial communities.     

Consequences of the reduction of plant diversity for litter decomposition: effects through litter quality and microenvironment

Decomposition of plant litter is a key process for the flow of energy and nutrients in ecosystems that may be sensitive to the loss of biodiversity. Two hypothetical mechanisms by which changes in plant diversity could affect litter decomposition are (1) through changes in litter species composition, and (2) by altering the decomposition microenvironment. We tested these ideas in relation to the short-term decomposition of herbaceous plant litter in experimental plant assemblages that differed in the numbers and types of plant species and functional groups that they contained to simulate loss of plant diversity. We used different litterbag experiments to separate the two potential pathways through which diversity could have an effect on decomposition. Our two litterbag trials showed that altering plant diversity affected litter breakdown differently through changes in decomposition microenvironment than through changes in litter composition. In the decomposition microenvironment experiment there was a significant but weak decline in decomposition rate in relation to decreasing plant diversity but no significant effect of plant composition. The litter composition experiment showed no effect of richness but significant effects of composition, including large differences between plant species and functional groups in litter chemistry and decomposition rate. However, for a nested subset of our litter mixtures decomposition was not accurately predicted from single-species bags; there were positive, non-additive effects of litter mixing which enhanced decomposition. We critically assess the strengths and limitations of our short-term litterbag trials in predicting the longer-term effects of changes in plant diversity on litter decomposition rates.     

Plant traits, litter quality and decomposition in a Mediterranean old-field succession

Human-induced changes in land use lead to major changes in plant community composition which have strong effects on ecosystem processes. Here, we tested the hypothesis that changes in traits of living plants induced by such changes resulted in changes in the quality and decay properties of the litter produced by the different communities. This was done in the context of a secondary succession following land abandonment in the Mediterranean region of Southern France. During the course of succession, species with high specific leaf area (the ratio of leaf area to leaf mass), low leaf dry matter content (the ratio of leaf dry mass to leaf fresh mass) and high leaf nitrogen concentration were progressively replaced by species with opposite characteristics. Accordingly, the initial litter concentrations of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) decreased, while their C:N ratio and their hemicellulose concentration increased with time after abandonment. Early-successional communities had faster rates of litter decay and N release from litter, but these differences damped out with decomposition time. Nitrogen release from litter was related to initial litter chemical composition, particularly to its N concentration. This also held for litter decay rate, but only during the first 18 months of decomposition. Community functional parameters (i.e. trait values weighed according to the relative abundance of species) were tightly linked to initial litter N concentration, and thereby to litter decay and N loss rates. The strongest correlations were found with leaf dry matter content, which therefore appears as a powerful marker of litter properties. This provides further evidence that characteristics of living leaves persist in litter, and that some ecosystem processes can be inferred from plant functional traits. Responsible Editor: Alfonso Escudero     

Subtropical montane tree litter decomposition: Links with secondary forest types and species' shade tolerance

Abstract Litter decomposition plays an important role in secondary forest recovery in the tropics. In this study we assessed the decomposition rates of tree litter in species from different secondary forest types and with different shade tolerances. The three secondary forest types analysed are related to the effects of different previous land use intensities. The typical forest type (TYP) is related to low land use intensity, Alnus acuminata‐dominated forest (ALN) type is related to medium land‐use intensity and Amomyrtella güili‐dominated forest type (AMO) is related to high land use intensity. The effect of shade tolerance was assessed using maximum height of each species as an indicator of its light requirements. Associations with leaf functional traits such as specific leaf area (SLA), and tensile strength (LTS) were also assessed. We found that leaves of species from the TYP forest type decompose faster than those of the ALN and AMO forest types. These changes were consistent with differences in the SLA of the species, which was higher in the TYP forest type than in the ALN and AMO forest types. SLA, LTS and decomposition were not significantly correlated with tree maximum height. Our results show that the secondary forest types, which are related to land use intensities prior to abandonment have an important influence on litter decomposition. This implies potential long‐term effects on soil properties and species composition.     

Leaf litter decomposition in a southern Sonoran Desert ecosystem, northwestern Mexico: Effects of habitat and litter quality

Leaf litter decomposition of dominant woody perennial species in the three most common habitats of the southern Sonoran Desert was studied using the litter-bag method. Our objective was to assess the influence of litter quality on decomposition rates in three contrasting desert environments. The hypotheses were: (1) decomposition rates within the same litter type are faster in more mesic habitats, (2) decomposition rates are lower in higher lignin content or lower nutrient quality substrates, and (3) species-rich substrates enhance decomposition rates. For all litter types and habitats, a rapid loss of mass occurred during the summer rains at the start of the experiment, but total loss within the same litter type differed significantly among habitats. Decay rates were not higher in the more mesic habitat, but in the dry plains where solar irradiance and termite activity were highest. While termite activity was less important in the arroyos and absent in the hillsides habitats, proliferation of fungal mycelium in these sites was much higher than in the plains, suggesting that biotic and abiotic factors act both independently of litter richness. Lignin content seems to be an important factor controlling the loss of litter, because decay rates were inversely related to litter initial lignin content in all three habitats. Leaf litter diversity did not enhance rates of decomposition. The leaf litter mixture had k-values similar to the most recalcitrant monospecific litter in all three habitats, indicating a neutral or even antagonistic role of species-specific compounds in decomposition rates.     

全球气候变暖对凋落物分解的影响

凋落物分解作为生态系统核心过程,参与生态系统碳的周转与循环,影响生态系统碳的收支平衡,调控生态系统对全球气候变暖的反馈结果。全球气候变暖通过环境因素、凋落物数量和质量以及分解者3个方面,直接或间接地作用于凋落物分解过程,并进一步影响土壤养分周转和碳库动态。气候变暖可通过升高温度和改变实际蒸散量等环境因素直接作用于凋落物分解。气候变暖可引起植物物种短期内碳、氮和木质素等化学性质的改变以及群落中物种组成的长期变化从而改变凋落物质量。在凋落物分解过程中,土壤分解者亚系统作为主要生命组分(土壤动物和微生物)彼此相互作用、相互协调共同参与调节凋落物的分解过程。凋落物分解可以通过改变土壤微生物量、微生物活动和群落结构来加快微生物养分的固定或矿化,以形成新的养分利用模式来改变土壤有机质从而对气候变化做出响应。未来凋落物分解的研究方向应基于大尺度跨区域分解实验和长期实验,关注多个因子交互影响下,分解过程中碳、氮养分释放、地上/地下凋落物分解生物学过程与联系、分解者亚系统营养级联效应等方面。     

Grazing-induced changes in plant composition affect litter quality and nutrient cycling in flooding Pampa grasslands

Changes in plant community composition induced by vertebrate grazers have been found to either accelerate or slow C and nutrient cycling in soil. This variation may reflect the differential effects of grazing-promoted (G+) plant species on overall litter quality and decomposition processes. Further, site conditions associated with prior grazing history are expected to influence litter decay and nutrient turnover. We studied how grazing-induced changes in plant life forms and species identity modified the quality of litter inputs to soil, decomposition rate and nutrient release in a flooding Pampa grassland, Argentina. Litter from G+ forbs and grasses (two species each) and grazing-reduced (G−) grasses (two species) was incubated in long-term grazed and ungrazed sites. G+ species, overall, showed higher rates of decomposition and N and P release from litter. However, this pattern was primarily driven by the low-growing, high litter-quality forbs included among G+ species. Forbs decomposed and released nutrients faster than either G+ or G− grasses. While no consistent differences between G+ and G− grasses were observed, patterns of grass litter decay and nutrient release corresponded with interspecific differences in phenology and photosynthetic pathway. Litter decomposition, N release and soil N availability were higher in the grazed site, irrespective of species litter type. Our results contradict the notion that grazing, by reducing more palatable species and promoting less palatable ones, should decrease nutrient cycling from litter. Plant tissue quality and palatability may not unequivocally link patterns of grazing resistance and litter decomposability within a community, especially where grazing causes major shifts in life form composition. Thus, plant functional groups defined by species’ “responses” to grazing may only partially overlap with functional groups based on species “effects” on C and nutrient cycling.     

Climate and litter quality differently modulate the effects of soil fauna on litter decomposition across biomes

Climate and litter quality have been identified as major drivers of litter decomposition at large spatial scales. However, the role played by soil fauna remains largely unknown, despite its importance for litter fragmentation and microbial activity. We synthesised litterbag studies to quantify the effect sizes of soil fauna on litter decomposition rates at the global and biome scales, and to assess how climate, litter quality and soil fauna interact to determine such rates. Soil fauna consistently enhanced litter decomposition at both global and biome scales (average increment ~ 27%). However, climate and litter quality differently modulated the effects of soil fauna on decomposition rates between biomes, from climate‐driven biomes to those where climate effects were mediated by changes in litter quality. Our results advocate for the inclusion of biome‐specific soil fauna effects on litter decomposition as a mean to reduce the unexplained variation in large‐scale decomposition models.     

Litter type and termites regulate root decomposition across contrasting savanna land‐uses

Decomposition is a vital ecosystem process, increasingly modified by human activity. Theoretical frameworks and empirical studies that aim to understand the interplay between human land‐use, macro‐fauna and decomposition processes have primarily focused on leaf and wood litter. For a whole‐plant understanding of how land‐use and macro‐fauna influence decomposition, investigating root litter is required. Using litterbags, we quantified rates of root decomposition across contrasting tropical savanna land‐uses, namely wildlife and fire‐dominated protected areas and livestock pastureland without fire. By scanning litterbags for termite intrusion, we differentiated termite and microbial driven decomposition. Root litter was buried underneath different tree canopies (leguminous and non‐leguminous trees) and outside canopies to account for savanna landscape effects. Additionally, we established a termite cafeteria‐style experiment and common garden to explore termite selectivity of root litter and root trait relationships, respectively. After one year, we found no significant differences in root litter mass loss between wildlife dominated areas and pastureland. Instead, we found consistent species differences in root litter mass loss across land‐uses and additive and non‐additive effects of termites on root decomposition across plant species. Termite selectivity for root litter species occurred for both root and leaf litter buried near termite mounds, but was not explained by root traits measured in the common garden. Termite foraging was greater under leguminous tree canopies than other canopies; however, this did not influence rates of root decomposition. Our study suggests that land‐use has a weak direct effect on belowground processes in savannas. Instead, changes in herbaceous species composition and termite foraging have stronger impacts on belowground decomposition. Moreover, termites were not generalist decomposers of root litter, but their impact varies depending on plant species identity and likely associated root traits. This root litter selectivity by termites is likely to be an important contributor to spatial heterogeneity in savanna nutrient cycling.     

Plant palatability to leaf‐cutter ants (Atta laevigata) and litter decomposability in a Neotropical woodland savanna

Although leaf‐cutter ants have been recognized as the dominant herbivore in many Neotropical ecosystems, their role in nutrient cycling remains poorly understood. Here we evaluated the relationship between plant palatability to leaf‐cutter ants and litter decomposability. Our rationale was that if preference and decomposability are related, and if ant consumption changes the abundance of litter with different quality, then ant herbivory could affect litter decomposition by affecting the quality of litter entering the soil. The study was conducted in a woodland savanna (cerrado denso) area in Minas Gerais, Brazil. We compared the decomposition rate of litter produced by trees whose fresh leaves have different degrees of palatability to the leaf‐cutter ant Atta laevigata. Our experiments did not indicate the existence of a significant relationship between leaf palatability to A. laevigata and leaf‐litter decomposability. Although the litter mixture composed of highly palatable plant species showed, initially, a faster decay rate than the mixture of poorly palatable species, this difference was no longer visible after about 6 months. Results were consistent regardless of whether litter invertebrates were excluded or not from litter bags. Similarly, experiments comparing the decomposition rate of litter from pairs of related plant species also showed no association between plant palatability and decomposition. Decomposition rate of the more palatable species was faster, slower or similar to that of the less palatable species depending upon the particular pair of species being compared. We suggest that the traits that mostly influence the decomposition rate of litter produced by cerrado trees may not be the same as those that influence plant palatability to leaf‐cutter ants. Atta laevigata select leaves of different species based – at least in part – on their nitrogen content, but N content was a poor predictor of the decomposition rates of the species we studied.     

Tree functional diversity affects litter decomposition and arthropod community composition in a tropical forest

Disturbance can alter tree species and functional diversity in tropical forests, which in turn could affect carbon and nutrient cycling via the decomposition of plant litter. However, the influence of tropical tree diversity on forest floor organisms and the processes they mediate are far from clear. We investigated the influence of different litter mixtures on arthropod communities and decomposition processes in a 60‐year‐old lowland tropical forest in Panama, Central America. We used litter mixtures representing pioneer and old growth tree species in experimental mesocosms to assess the links between litter types, decomposition rates, and litter arthropod communities. Overall, pioneer species litter decomposed most rapidly and old growth species litter decomposed the slowest but there were clear non‐additive effects of litter mixtures containing both functional groups. We observed distinct arthropod communities in different litter mixtures at 6 mo, with greater arthropod diversity and abundance in litter from old growth forest species. By comparing the decay of different litter mixtures in mesocosms and conventional litterbags, we demonstrated that our mesocosms represent an effective approach to link studies of litter decomposition and arthropod communities. Our results indicate that changes in the functional diversity of litter could have wider implications for arthropod communities and ecosystem functioning in tropical forests.     

Galling by Rhopalomyia solidaginis alters Solidago altissima architecture and litter nutrient dynamics in an old-field ecosystem

Plant–insect interactions can alter ecosystem processes, especially if the insects modify plant architecture, quality, or the quantity of leaf litter inputs. In this study, we investigated the interactions between the rosette gall midge Rhopalomyia solidaginis and tall goldenrod, Solidago altissima, to quantify the degree to which the midge alters plant architecture and how the galls affect rates of litter decomposition and nutrient release in an old-field ecosystem. R. solidaginis commonly leads to the formation of a distinct apical rosette gall on S. altissima and approximately 15% of the ramets in a S. altissima patch were galled (range: 3–34%). Aboveground biomass of galled ramets was 60% higher and the leaf area density was four times greater on galled leaf tissue relative to the portions of the plant that were not affected by the gall. Overall decomposition rate constants did not differ between galled and ungalled leaf litter. However, leaf-litter mass loss was lower in galled litter relative to ungalled litter, which was likely driven by modest differences in initial litter chemistry; this effect diminished after 12 weeks of decomposition in the field. The proportion of N remaining was always higher in galled litter than in ungalled litter at each collection date indicating differential release of nitrogen in galled leaf litter. Several studies have shown that plant–insect interactions on woody species can alter ecosystem processes by affecting the quality or quantity of litter inputs. Our results illustrate how plant–insect interactions in an herbaceous species can affect ecosystem processes by altering the quality and quantity of litter inputs. Given that S. altissima dominates fields and that R. solidaginis galls are highly abundant throughout eastern North America, these interactions are likely to be important for both the structure and function of old-field ecosystems.     

Interacting effects of leaf litter species and macrofauna on decomposition in different litter environments

The leaf litter environment (single species versus mixed species), and interactions between litter diversity and macrofauna are thought to be important in influencing decomposition rates. However, the role of soil macrofauna in the breakdown of different species of leaf litter is poorly understood. In this study we examine the multiple biotic controls of decomposition – litter quality, soil macrofauna and litter environment and their interactions. The influence of soil macrofauna and litter environment on the decomposition of six deciduous tree species (Fraxinus excelsior L., Acer pseudoplatanus L., Acer campestre L., Corylus avellana L., Quercus robur L., Fagus sylvatica L.) was investigated in a temperate forest, Wytham Woods, Southern England. We used litterbags that selectively excluded macrofauna to assess the relative importance of macrofauna versus microbial, micro and mesofauna decomposition, and placed single species bags in either conspecific single species or mixed species litter environments. The study was designed to separate plant species composition effects on litter decomposition rates, allowing us to evaluate whether mixed species litter environments affect decomposition rates compared to single species litter environments, and if so whether the effects vary among litter species, over time, and with regard to the presence of soil macrofauna. All species had faster rates of decomposition when macrofauna were present, with 22–41% of the total mass loss attributed to macrofauna. Macrofauna were most important for easily decomposable species as soon as the leaves were placed on the ground, but were most important for recalcitrant species after nine months in the field. The mass loss rates did not differ between mixed and single species litter environments, indicating that observed differences between single species and mixed species litterbags in previous field studies are due to the direct contact of neighbouring species inside the litterbag rather than the litter environment in which they are placed.     

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。     

Simulating plant invasion dynamics in mountain ecosystems under global change scenarios

Across the globe, invasive alien species cause severe environmental changes, altering species composition and ecosystem functions. So far, mountain areas have mostly been spared from large‐scale invasions. However, climate change, land‐use abandonment, the development of tourism and the increasing ornamental trade will weaken the barriers to invasions in these systems. Understanding how alien species will react and how native communities will influence their success is thus of prime importance in a management perspective. Here, we used a spatially and temporally explicit simulation model to forecast invasion risks in a protected mountain area in the French Alps under future conditions. We combined scenarios of climate change, land‐use abandonment and tourism‐linked increases in propagule pressure to test if the spread of alien species in the region will increase in the future. We modelled already naturalized alien species and new ornamental plants, accounting for interactions among global change components, and also competition with the native vegetation. Our results show that propagule pressure and climate change will interact to increase overall species richness of both naturalized aliens and new ornamentals, as well as their upper elevational limits and regional range‐sizes. Under climate change, woody aliens are predicted to more than double in range‐size and herbaceous species to occupy up to 20% of the park area. In contrast, land‐use abandonment will open new invasion opportunities for woody aliens, but decrease invasion probability for naturalized and ornamental alien herbs as a consequence of colonization by native trees. This emphasizes the importance of interactions with the native vegetation either for facilitating or potentially for curbing invasions. Overall, our work highlights an additional and previously underestimated threat for the fragile mountain flora of the Alps already facing climate changes, land‐use transformations and overexploitation by tourism.     

Short-term effects of litter from 21 woody species on plant growth and root development

Background and aims

Plant litter has an important role in terrestrial ecosystems (Lambers et al. 2008). Our aim was to assess the short-term effect of litter from 21 woody species (deciduous and evergreens) on plant growth and root development.

Methods

We conducted a short-term experiment (10 weeks) under controlled conditions adding litter from 21 woody species to pots with Dactylis glomerata (target species). We determined plant biomass and root development and related these variables to decomposition rate and litter quality.

Results

Litter from two species enhanced plant growth whereas litter of five species inhibited it. Considering all species in the data set, plant growth was associated to litter with high decomposition rate and high litter quality: high Ca and N concentration and low polyphenols concentration. However, excluding from the analyses the two species that increased growth, litter inhibition effect on plant growth was related to the litter-polyphenols concentration. Plants growing with nutrient-richer litter had a lower proportion of fine roots which could be related to a litter mediated increase in soil nutrient.

Conclusions

Enhanced plant growth or, on the contrary, plant growth inhibition could be the result of a positive or, in turn, negative balance between nutrient and polyphenols concentration in litter.     

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.     

Litter evenness influences short-term peatland decomposition processes

There is concern that changes in climate and land use could increase rates of decomposition in peatlands, leading to release of stored C to the atmosphere. Rates of decomposition are driven by abiotic factors such as temperature and moisture, but also by biotic factors such as changes in litter quality resulting from vegetation change. While effects of litter species identity and diversity on decomposition processes are well studied, the impact of changes in relative abundance (evenness) of species has received less attention. In this study we investigated effects of changes in short-term peatland plant species evenness on decomposition in mixed litter assemblages, measured as litter weight loss, respired CO₂ and leachate C and N. We found that over the 307-day incubation period, higher levels of species evenness increased rates of decomposition in mixed litters, measured as weight loss and leachate dissolved organic N. We also found that the identity of the dominant species influenced rates of decomposition, measured as weight loss, CO₂ flux and leachate N. Greatest rates of decomposition were when the dwarf shrub Calluna vulgaris dominated litter mixtures, and lowest rates when the bryophyte Pleurozium schreberi dominated. Interactions between evenness and dominant species identity were also detected for litter weight loss and leachate N. In addition, positive non-additive effects of mixing litter were observed for litter weight loss. Our findings highlight the importance of changes in the evenness of plant community composition for short-term decomposition processes in UK peatlands.     

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.     

Factors controlling decomposition rates of fine root litter in temperate forests and grasslands

Background and aims

Fine root decomposition contributes significantly to element cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. However, studies on root decomposition rates and on the factors that potentially influence them are fewer than those on leaf litter decomposition. To study the effects of region and land use intensity on fine root decomposition, we established a large scale study in three German regions with different climate regimes and soil properties. Methods In 150 forest and 150 grassland sites we deployed litterbags (100 μm mesh size) with standardized litter consisting of fine roots from European beech in forests and from a lowland mesophilous hay meadow in grasslands. In the central study region, we compared decomposition rates of this standardized litter with root litter collected on-site to separate the effect of litter quality from environmental factors.

Results

Standardized herbaceous roots in grassland soils decomposed on average significantly faster (24?±?6 % mass loss after 12 months, mean ± SD) than beech roots in forest soils (12?±?4 %; p?Conclusions Grasslands, which have higher fine root biomass and root turnover compared to forests, also have higher rates of root decomposition. Our results further show that at the regional scale fine root decomposition is influenced by environmental variables such as soil moisture, soil temperature and soil nutrient content. Additional variation is explained by root litter quality.