Interaction of Douglas-fir with red alder and salal foliage litter during decomposition

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 358-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.W. Fyles ◽  
I.H. Fyles
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Nitrogen Content ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Linear Trend ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Red Alder ◽  
Ericaceous Shrub

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) foliage litter was incubated in the laboratory in 100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75, and 0/100% mixtures with foliage litters from red alder (Alnusrubra Bong.), a nitrogen-fixing tree species, and salal (Gaultheriashallon Pursh) an ericaceous shrub. Mass loss and mineral nitrogen content were measured at eight dates during the 32-week incubation. The occurrence of interaction between litters, observed as deviation from a linear trend across mixtures at each date, was determined by polynomial contrasts. Douglas-fir–red alder mixtures decomposed faster than predicted by mass loss from pure litters throughout the study, apparently because of nitrogen mineralized by the red alder component. Douglas-fir–salal mixtures decomposed more slowly than predicted between 7 and 25 weeks. The study demonstrates the potential for litters to interact with positive or negative effects on decomposition rates and emphasizes the need to examine such interactions if litter decomposition in the field is to be understood.

scholarly journals No Difference in Instream Decomposition Among Upland Agricultural and Forested Streams in Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen C. Kadeka ◽  
Frank O. Masese ◽  
David M. Lusega ◽  
Augustine Sitati ◽  
Benjamin N. Kondowe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Fine Mesh ◽  
Agricultural Streams

Expansion of agriculture is particularly worrying in tropical regions of the world, where native forests have been replaced by croplands and grasslands, with severe consequences for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functioning. However, limited data exist on the effects of agriculture on the functioning of tropical streams. We conducted a leaf litter decomposition experiment in coarse- and fine-mesh litterbags using the three species of leaves (Eucalyptus globulus [non-native], Vernonia myriantha, and Syzygium cordatum [indigenous]) in three forested and agricultural streams to determine the effect of agriculture on instream leaf litter decomposition in headwater stream sites. We also examined the functional composition of macroinvertebrates in the streams through the contents of benthic kick samples. Agricultural streams had a less dense riparian canopy and smaller abundance of coarse organic particulate matter, and higher electric conductivity and suspended solids than forested streams. In terms of the effects of litter quality on decomposition rates, Vernonia had the fastest decomposition rates while Eucalyptus had the slowest in both forested and agricultural sites. Shredder invertebrates were less abundant in agricultural streams, and in both stream types, they were less diverse and abundant than other functional groups. Overall, leaf litter decomposition rates did not respond to agricultural land-use. The hypothesized negative effects of agriculture on organic matter processing were minimal and likely modulated by intact riparian zones along agricultural streams.

Fungal richness does not buffer the effects of streams salinization on litter decomposition

2021 ◽  
Vol 57 ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Janine Pereira da Silva ◽  
Aingeru Martínez ◽  
Ana Lúcia Gonçalves ◽  
Felix Bärlocher ◽  
Cristina Canhoto
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Fungal Biomass ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Aquatic Hyphomycetes ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Stream Functioning ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Sporulation Rate ◽  
The Impact

Freshwater salinization is a world-wide phenomenon threatening stream communities and ecosystem functioning. In these systems, litter decomposition is a main ecosystem-level process where fungi (aquatic hyphomycetes) play a central role linking basal resource and higher levels of food-web. The current study evaluated the impact of aquatic hyphomycete richness on leaf litter decomposition when subjected to salinization. In a microcosm study, we analysed leaf mass loss, fungal biomass, respiration and sporulation rate by fungal assemblages at three levels of species richness (1, 4, 8 species) and three levels of salinity (0, 8, 16 g NaCl L‑1). Mass loss and sporulation rate were depressed at 8 and 16 g NaCl L‑1, while fungal biomass and respiration were only negatively affected at 16 g L‑1. A richness effect was only observed on sporulation rates, with the maximum values found in assemblages of 4 species. In all cases, the negative effects of high levels of salinization on the four tested variables superimposed the potential buffer capacity of fungal richness. The study suggests functional redundancy among the fungal species even at elevated salt stress conditions which may guarantee stream functioning at extreme levels of salinity. Nonetheless, it also points to the possible importance of salt induced changes on fungal diversity and identity in salinized streams able to induce bottom-up effects in the food webs.

scholarly journals Site Type Effect on Litter Decomposition Rates: A Three-Year Comparison of Decomposition Process between Spoil Heap and Forest Sites

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Horodecki ◽  
Jagodziński
Keyword(s):  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Degraded Lands ◽  
Spoil Heap ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Pine Stands

Research Highlights: Direct comparison of leaf litter decomposition rates between harsh soil conditions of degraded lands and adjacent “closer to natural” forest areas has not been done before. Background and Objectives: We aimed to fill this knowledge gap by determining the differences in amounts of carbon and nitrogen released by species-specific litter depending on decomposition rates in various stand and habitat conditions, which enables selection of the most ecologically and economically appropriate (for fast soil organic layer development) tree species for afforestation of reclaimed lands. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on the external spoil heap of the “Bełchatów” lignite mine (Central Poland) and adjacent forests. In December 2013, we established a litterbag experiment beneath the canopies of birch and pine stands. We used litter of Alnus glutinosa (Gaertn.), Betula pendula (Roth), Pinus sylvestris (L.), and Quercus robur (L.) collected ex situ, which we installed (after oven-drying) beneath the canopies of eight stands. The experiment lasted for three years (with sampling of three-month intervals). Results: Harsh soil conditions of degraded lands are unfavorable for litter mineralization. It was found that 23%–74% of decomposed materials were mineralized in spoil heap stands, whereas in forest stands these amounts ranged from 35%–83%. Litter of Q. robur in birch stands on the spoil heap is predicted to take 12 years longer for total decomposition than in forest stands of the same species. This hinders organic carbon turnover and could result in elongation of the time for full biological and economic reclamation of degraded lands. On the other hand, decomposition of relatively fast decomposable litter (A. glutinosa and B. pendula) in pine stands on the spoil heap was faster than in pine stands in forest sites (17% and 13% faster, respectively). We did not observe this trend for decomposition of more recalcitrant litter types of P. sylvestris and Q. robur. Conclusions: The results show the value of selective choice of tree species for afforestation of post-mining areas to accelerate the development of technogenic soil substrates. We recommend introducing all tree species studied in the cluster form of admixtures as all of them could bring some profits in ecological and economical reclamation.

Douglas-fir – spruce for the 22nd century? Review of the recent Czech literature

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 51-58
Author(s):  
Подразски ◽  
Vilem Podrazski ◽  
Матвеев ◽  
Sergey Matveev
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Vegetation Diversity ◽  
Suitable Alternative ◽  
Middle Europe ◽  
The Stability

Presented paper summarizes the knowledge concerning the cultivation of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii /Mirb./ Franco), its production as well as its non-production forest functions in the conditions of the Czech Republic/Middle Europe. It analyzes the research outcomes from the point of view of volume and value production in comparison with domestic tree species, from the point of view of the soil effects and effects on the ground vegetation diversity, and from point of view of stability and cultivation in the last period. Main aim is represented by the comparison with the Norway spruce, which can be with advantages replaced by this species, with favourable impact on amount and value of the timber production, on the soil and biodiversity status of the ground vegetation. The Norway spruce is heavily affected and endangered by the coming or supposed climatic changes. Also the stability of forest stands can be supported considerably replacing Norway spruce by Douglas-fir. This species can represent suitable alternative to the Norway spruce in lower and middle altitudes and it can contribute highly to the competitiveness not only of the Czech, but European forestry too, increasing stability and production, decreasing the negative effects of the tree species changes in the past.

Litter dynamics in two Sierran mixed conifer forests. I. Litterfall and decomposition rates

1988 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 1127-1135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Stohlgren
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
White Fir ◽  
Mixed Conifer Forests ◽  
Sugar Pine ◽  
Giant Sequoia

Litterfall was measured for 4 years and leaf litter decomposition rates were studied for 3.6 years in two mixed conifer forests (giant sequoia–fir and fir–pine) in the southern Sierra Nevada of California. The giant sequoia–fir forest (GS site) was dominated by giant sequoia (Sequoiadendrongiganteum (Lindl.) Buchh.), white fir (Abiesconcolor Lindl. & Gord.), and sugar pine (Pinuslambertiana Dougl.). The fir–pine forest (FP site) was dominated by white fir, sugar pine, and incense cedar (Calocedrusdecurrens (Torr.) Florin). Litterfall, including large woody debris <15.2 cm in diameter, at the GS site averaged 6364 kg•ha−1•year−1 compared with 4355 kg•ha−1•year−1 at the FP site. Compared with other temperate coniferous forests, annual variability in litterfall (as computed by the ratio of the annual maximum/minimum litterfall) was extremely high for the GS site (5.8:1) and moderately high for the FP site (3.4:1). In the GS site, leaf litter decomposition after 3.6 years was slowest for giant sequoia (28.2% mass loss), followed by sugar pine (34.3%) and white fir (45.1%). In the FP site, mass loss was slowest for sugar pine (40.0%), followed by white fir (45.1%), while incense cedar showed the greatest mass loss (56.9%) after 3.6 years. High litterfall rates of large woody debris (i.e., 2.5–15.2 cm diameter) and slow rates of leaf litter decomposition in the giant sequoia–fir forest type may result in higher litter accumulation rates than in the fir–pine type. Leaf litter times to 95% decay for the GS and FP sites were 30 and 27 years, respectively, if the initial 0.7-year period (a short period of rapid mass decay) was ignored in the calculation. A mass balance approach for total litterfall (<15.2 cm diameter) decomposition yielded lower decay constants than did the litterbag study and therefore longer times to 95% decay (57 years for the GS site and 62 years for the FP site).

scholarly journals Presence of Mycorrhizal Fungal Hyphae Rather than Living Roots Retards Root Litter Decomposition

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guigang Lin ◽  
Zhengxia Chen ◽  
De-Hui Zeng
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Phenol Oxidase ◽  
Litter Mass ◽  
Root Litter ◽  
Fungal Hyphae ◽  
Litter Mass Loss

Although both living roots and mycorrhizal fungi are well known to interact with saprotrophic microbes to affect litter decomposition, their relative importance is largely unclear. Here, a two-year pot experiment was conducted with two ectomycorrhizal (Pinus elliottii and Pinus massoniana) and four arbuscular mycorrhizal (Cinnamomum camphora, Cunninghamia lanceolata, Michelia maudiae and Schima superba) subtropical tree species to evaluate the relative effects of living roots and mycorrhizal fungal hyphae on their own root litter decomposition and to test whether these effects differed between ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal trees. To achieve these objectives, litterbags with 50-µm and 1-mm mesh sizes filled with root litter of a given tree species were simultaneously installed in pots planted with the same species and unplanted pots filled with composite soil for all species. Effects of living roots alone were calculated as differences in root litter decomposition between 50-µm and 1-mm mesh litterbags installed in planted pots. Mycorrhizal hyphal effects were calculated as differences in root litter decomposition between 50-µm litterbags installed in planted and unplanted pots. The presence of mycorrhizal fungal hyphae significantly reduced root litter mass loss and inhibited the activities of β-glucosidase and phenol oxidase, while effects of living roots alone were non-significant when all tree species were pooled and inconsistent at the tree species level. Mycorrhizal fungal hyphae induced decreases in root litter mass loss that were markedly related to their inhibitory effects on β-glucosidase and phenol oxidase activities. When tree species were grouped by their mycorrhizal types, non-significant differences were observed between ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal trees in their living root or mycorrhizal fungal effects on root litter decomposition. These findings highlight the important roles of mycorrhizal fungi in mediating litter decomposition via interacting with saprotrophic microbes and suggest that changes in tree carbon allocation to mycorrhizal fungi owing to global change may affect soil carbon storage.

Decomposition of Douglas-fir and red alder wood in clear-cuttings

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 822-831 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Edmonds ◽  
Daniel J. Vogt ◽  
David H. Sandberg ◽  
Charles H. Driver
Keyword(s):  
Small Diameter ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Dominant Factor ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Wood Decomposition ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Red Alder ◽  
A Minor ◽  
The University

Decomposition rates of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and red alder (Alnusrubra Bong.) wood (simulating logging residues) were determined in clear-cuttings at the Charles Lathrop Pack Experimental Forest of the University of Washington, which is located approximately 120 km south of Seattle, WA. The influence of diameter (1–2, 4–6, and 8–12 cm), vertical location (buried, on the soil surface, and elevated), season of logging (summer and winter), aspect (north and south), and wood temperature, moisture, and chemistry on wood decomposition rates were determined. Red alder wood decomposed faster (k = 0.035–0.517 year−1) than Douglas-fir wood (k = 0.006–0.205 year−1). In general, buried wood decomposed faster than surface wood, which decomposed faster than elevated wood. Small diameter wood generally decomposed faster than larger diameter wood. Aspect and season of logging had little influence on decomposition rates. Moisture and temperature were the dominant factors related to Douglas-fir wood decomposition, with initial chemistry playing a minor role. Initial wood chemistry, particularly soda solubility, was the dominant factor related to red alder wood decomposition.

scholarly journals Leaf Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Dynamics Associated with Common Horticultural Cropland Agroforest Tree Species of Bangladesh

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Hasanuzzaman ◽  
Mahmood Hossain
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Decay Constant ◽  
Nutrient Dynamics ◽  
Mangifera Indica ◽  
Decomposition Process ◽  
Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽  
Zizyphus Jujuba

Mangifera indica,Zizyphus jujuba,Litchi chinensis, andArtocarpus heterophyllusare the most common cropland agroforest horticultural tree species of Bangladesh. This study focused on leaf litter decomposition and nutrient (N, P, and K) dynamics during the decomposition process. This experiment was conducted for 180 days by using litter bag technique during dry and wet seasons. Mass loss was the highest (49% and 57%) forA. heterophyllusand the lowest (25%) was found forL. chinensis. The highest initial rates (0.75% and 2.35%/day) of decomposition were observed forZ. jujubaand the lowest (0.50% and 0.79%/day) forL. chinensis. The highest decay constant was observed forA. heterophyllus(2.14 and 2.34) and the lowest (0.88 and 0.94) forL. chinensis. Leaf litter of all the studied species showed a similar pattern (K > N > P) of nutrient release during the decomposition process.Zizyphus jujubashowed comparatively higher return of N, P, and K than others. However, a significant (P<0.05) higher amount of mass loss, rate of decomposition, decay constant, and amount of nutrient return from leaf litter were observed during the wet season.

Humus buildup in boreal forests: effects of litter fall and its N concentration

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 988-998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn Berg ◽  
Charles McClaugherty ◽  
Amalia Virzo De Santo ◽  
Dale Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Litter Fall ◽  
Red Alder ◽  
Limit Values ◽  
Measured Amount ◽  
N Concentration ◽  
Using Data

This synthesis paper presents a model for estimating the buildup of soil organic matter in boreal deciduous and coniferous forests. A basic model was developed using data from a well-studied Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest (SWECON site) and based on limit values for litter decomposition and amounts of litter fall. A local validation gave a calculated humus accumulation that differed by 8% from the amount measured in the stand. This model was further validated using data for humus accumulated for 2984, 2081, and 1106 years, predicting an accumulation close to the measured amount, and for needle litter the missing fractions were 16, 17, and –6%, respectively, for the three groups. The limit value for litter decomposition is negatively related to the litter's initial N concentration; thus, N-rich litter should have a larger resistant fraction left than N poor. This relationship was validated using nine paired stands of monocultures: eight pairs of Scots pine and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and one pair of red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). The measured amount of SOM was related to foliar litter fall and its N concentration. In all cases the more N-rich litter gave in all cases the more N-rich Norway spruce litter gave a significantly higher accumulation of humus for Norway spruce in spite of a higher litter fall for Scots pine. Also, red alder gave more SOM than Douglas-fir and in an expected relation to the litter N concentration. A consequence of this would be that C sinks of different efficiencies or capacities would tend to accumulate SOM at different rates.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document