Response of Annual Herbaceous Plant Leaching and Decomposition to Periodic Submergence in Mega-Reservoirs: Changes in Litter Nutrients and Soil Properties for Restoration

Litter decomposition is an important soil nutrient source that promotes vegetation in deteriorated riparian zones worldwide. The periodic submergence and sediment burial effects on two prominent annual herbaceous plants (Echinochloa crusgali and Bidens tripartite) are little known in mega-reservoir settings. Our study focuses on the mass and carbon loss and nutrient release from E. crusgali and B. tripartitle litter and changes in soil properties, which are important for riparian zone rehabilitation in the Three Gorges Dam Reservoir, China. This study adopted the litter bag method to explore the nutrient change characteristics and changes in soil properties at different sediment burial depths under flooding scenarios. Three burial depths (0 cm, 5 cm, and 10 cm) were used for these two plants, and the experiment lasted for 180 days. The results revealed that the litter decay rate was high at first in the incubation experiment, and the nutrient loss rate followed the pattern of K > P > N > C. The relationship between % C remaining and % mass remaining was nearly 1:1, and the total amount of P exhibited a leaching–enrichment–release state in the decomposition process. Nutrients were changed significantly in the soil and overlying water at the first decomposition stage. Still, the total soil nutrient change was insignificant at the end, except for the 10 cm burial of B. tripartitle. Moreover, oxidation–reduction potential was the main factor in the litter decomposition process at different burial depths. This study indicated that sediment deposition reduced litter mass loss, slowed down the release of N and P, and retained more C, but promoted the release of K. Conclusively, in litter decomposition under waterlogging, the total soil nutrient content changed little. However, litter does more to the soil than that. Therefore, it is necessary to study the residual soil litter’s continuous output after the water level declines for restoration purposes.

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Changes in soil properties and salt tolerance of safflower in response to biochar-based metal oxide nanocomposites of magnesium and manganese

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety ◽

10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.111904 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 211 ◽

pp. 111904

Author(s):

Salar Farhangi-Abriz ◽

Kazem Ghassemi-Golezani

Keyword(s):

Salt Tolerance ◽

Metal Oxide ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Changes In Soil Properties

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Changes in soil properties and plant biodiversity after 12 years of rehabilitating livestock farms in the Hyrcanian Forests

Agroforestry Systems ◽

10.1007/s10457-021-00658-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Seyed Mohammad Hojjati ◽

Asieh Darzi ◽

Hamed Asadi ◽

Mahya Tafazoli

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Plant Biodiversity ◽

Hyrcanian Forests ◽

Livestock Farms ◽

Changes In Soil Properties

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF WATERLOGGING DAMAGE IN YOUNG BARLEY PLANTS IN RELATION TO PLANT NUTRIENT STATUS AND CHANGES IN SOIL PROPERTIES

New Phytologist ◽

10.1111/j.1469-8137.1979.tb02656.x ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 82 (2) ◽

pp. 301-314 ◽

Cited By ~ 80

Author(s):

M. C. Drew ◽

E. J. Sisworo

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Nutrient Status ◽

Plant Nutrient ◽

Changes In Soil Properties

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Assessment of Leaf Litter Decomposition in a Pine and Beech Mixed Forest: Case Study in Northern Spain

Environmental Sciences Proceedings ◽

10.3390/iecf2020-07779 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 25

Author(s):

David Candel-Pérez ◽

J. Bosco Imbert ◽

Maitane Unzu ◽

Juan A. Blanco

Keyword(s):

Chemical Composition ◽

Forest Management ◽

Leaf Litter ◽

Litter Decomposition ◽

Mixed Forest ◽

Decomposition Process ◽

Tree Canopy ◽

Natural State ◽

Nutrient Cycles ◽

Decomposition Rates

The promotion of mixed forests represents an adaptation strategy in forest management to cope with climate change. The mixing of tree species with complementary ecological traits may modify forest functioning regarding productivity, stability, or resilience against disturbances. Litter decomposition is an important process for global carbon and nutrient cycles in terrestrial ecosystems, also affecting the functionality and sustainability of forests. Decomposition of mixed-leaf litters has become an active research area because it mimics the natural state of leaf litters in most forests. Thus, it is important to understand the factors controlling decomposition rates and nutrient cycles in mixed stands. In this study, we conducted a litter decomposition experiment in a Scots pine and European beech mixed forest in the province of Navarre (north of Spain). The effects of forest management (i.e., different thinning intensities), leaf litter types, and tree canopy on mass loss and chemical composition in such decomposing litter were analysed over a period of three years. Higher decomposition rates were observed in leaf litter mixtures, suggesting the existence of positive synergies between both pine and beech litter types. Moreover, a decomposition process was favoured under mixed-tree canopy patches. Regarding thinning treatments significant differences on decomposition rates disappeared at the end of the study period. Time influenced the nutrient concentration after the leaf litter incubation, with significant differences in the chemical composition between the different types of leaf litter. Higher Ca and Mg concentrations were found in beech litter types than in pine ones. An increase in certain nutrients throughout the decomposition process was observed due to immobilization by microorganisms (e.g., Mg in all leaf litter types, K only in beech leaves, P in thinned plots and under mixed canopy). Evaluating the overall response in mixed-leaf litters and the contribution of single species is necessary for understanding the litter decomposition and nutrient processes in mixed-forest ecosystems.

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