A canopy trimming experiment in Puerto Rico: The response of litter decomposition and nutrient release to canopy opening and debris deposition in a subtropical wet forest

We conducted a field experiment with four levels of simulated nitrogen (N) deposition (0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 g N m−2 yr−1, respectively) to investigate the response of litter decomposition of Pinus koraiensis (PK), Tilia amurensis (TA), and their mixture to N deposition during winter and growing seasons. Results showed that N addition significantly increased the mass loss of PK litter and significantly decreased the mass loss of TA litter throughout the 2 yr decomposition processes, which indicated that the different responses in the decomposition of different litters to N addition can be species specific, potentially attributed to different litter chemistry. The faster decomposition of PK litter with N addition occurred mainly in the winter, whereas the slower decomposition of TA litter with N addition occurred during the growing season. Moreover, N addition had a positive effect on the release of phosphorus, magnesium, and manganese for PK litter and had a negative effect on the release of carbon, iron, and lignin for TA litter. Decomposition and nutrient release from mixed litter with N addition showed a non-additive effect. The mass loss from litter in the first winter and over the entire study correlated positively with the initial concentration of cellulose, lignin, and certain nutrients in the litter, demonstrating the potential influence of different tissue chemistries.

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Leaf litter decomposition and nutrient release of three selected agroforestry tree species

Agroforestry Systems ◽

10.1007/s10457-021-00606-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Adejoke O. Akinyele ◽

Ugonma Donald-Amaeshi

Keyword(s):

Leaf Litter ◽

Litter Decomposition ◽

Tree Species ◽

Nutrient Release ◽

Leaf Litter Decomposition

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Plant responses to simulated hurricane impacts in a subtropical wet forest, Puerto Rico

Journal of Ecology ◽

10.1111/j.1365-2745.2010.01646.x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 98 (3) ◽

pp. 659-673 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Aaron B. Shiels ◽

Jess K. Zimmerman ◽

Diana C. García-Montiel ◽

Inge Jonckheere ◽

Jennifer Holm ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Plant Responses ◽

Hurricane Impacts ◽

Subtropical Wet Forest

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Litter mixing effect on decomposition rate and nutrient release: low quality leaves of coastal species

10.22541/au.162626116.63018882/v2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lili Wei

Keyword(s):

Litter Decomposition ◽

Decomposition Rate ◽

Nutrient Release ◽

Additive Effect ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Mangrove Species ◽

Litter Bag ◽

Litter Mixtures ◽

Coastal Species ◽

Litter Mixing

Coastal wetlands are among the most carbon-rich ecosystems in the world. Litter decomposition is a major process controlling soil carbon input. Litter mixing has shown a non-additive effect on the litter decomposition of terrestrial plants particularly of those species having contrasting litter quality. But the non-additive effect has been rarely tested in coastal plants which generally having low-quality litters. We selected three common mangrove species and one saltmarsh species, co-occurring in subtropical coasts, to test whether the non-additive effect occurs when the litters of these coastal species mixing together. We are also concerned whether the changes in the decomposition rate of litter will affect the nutrient contents in waters. A litter-bag experiment was carried out in a glasshouse with single and mixed leaf litters. A non-additive effect was observed in the litter mixtures of mangrove species Aegiceras corniculatum vs. Kandelia obovata (antagonistic) and A. corniculatum vs. Avicennia marina (synergistic). Whereas, the mixture of A. corniculatum (mangrove species) and Spartina alterniflora (saltmarsh species) showed an additive effect. The strength of the non-additive effect was unrelated to the initial trait dissimilarity of litters. Instead, the decomposition rate and mass remaining of litter mixtures were strongly related to the carbon concentrations in litters. Nutrient content in waters was dependent on the decomposition rate of litter mixtures but not on the initial nutrient concentrations in litters. Despite the behind mechanisms were not yet revealed by the current study, these findings have improved our understanding of the litter decomposition of coastal species and the consequent nutrient release.

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Leaf Litter Decomposition and Nutrient-Release Characteristics of Several Willow Varieties Within Short-Rotation Coppice Plantations in Saskatchewan, Canada

BioEnergy Research ◽

10.1007/s12155-014-9431-y ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 1074-1090 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

R. D. Hangs ◽

J. J. Schoenau ◽

K. C. J. Van Rees ◽

N. Bélanger ◽

T. Volk

Keyword(s):

Leaf Litter ◽

Litter Decomposition ◽

Nutrient Release ◽

Short Rotation Coppice ◽

Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽

Short Rotation

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Do Silvi-Medicinal Plantations Affect Tree Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Mineralization?

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11185138 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (18) ◽

pp. 5138 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xiaoxi Zhang ◽

Hangyu Lei ◽

Yujie Chong ◽

Jiawei Hu ◽

Wenrong Che ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Litter Decomposition ◽

Plant Secondary Metabolites ◽

Cellulase Activity ◽

Nutrient Release ◽

Medicinal Herbs ◽

Inhibitory Effects ◽

Nutrient Mineralization ◽

Specific Effects ◽

P Release ◽

Tree Litter

In a silvi-medicinal system, the plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) released from medicinal herbs could affect tree litter decomposition and nutrient release. However, the specific effects of PSMs on arboreous litter decomposition are still not well understood. In this study, the extracts of nine types of medicinal herbs were used to treat Pinus armandii Franch. and Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. litter during a simulated half-year decomposition. The effects of the extracts on the decomposition and the N and P release of the conifer litter were investigated. The results indicated that most of the medicinal herb extracts significantly inhibited the late decomposition of P. armandii litter, whereas only two of them accelerated the entire decomposition process. Only a few significantly affected the decomposition of the L. gmelinii litter. Four of the nine types of extract significantly inhibited the N and P release of the P. armandii litter, while 3/9 and 6/9 inhibited the N and P release of the L. gmelinii litter, respectively. The accelerating effects of the extracts on the cellulase activity and the inhibitory effects on the polyphenol oxidase activity might be responsible for the early acceleration and late inhibition of litter decomposition, while the effects of the extracts on the activities of protease and phosphatase might not be the main reason for the inhibitory or accelerating effects on the N and P release. In general, the inhibitory effects of medicinal herbs on the nutrient cycling of ecosystems should be taken into consideration when building silvi-medicinal systems, especially in P. armandii forests.

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