scholarly journals Effect of Litter Quality on Needle Decomposition for Four Pine Species in Korea

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 371
Author(s):  
Hee Myung Chae ◽  
Sung Hwan Choi ◽  
Sang Hoon Lee ◽  
Sangsub Cha ◽  
Keum Chul Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Litter Quality ◽  
Pinus Koraiensis ◽  
Cellulose Content ◽  
Initial Surface ◽  
Needle Litter ◽  
Pine Species

Litter decomposition involves multiple complex processes, including interactions between the physicochemical characteristics of litter species and various environmental factors. We selected four representative pine species in South Korea (Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc., Pinus thunbergii Parl., Pinus koraiensis Siebold & Zucc., and Pinus rigida Miller) to investigate the decay rate and effects of the physicochemical properties on decomposition. Needle litters were incubated in microcosms at 23 °C for 280 days and retrieved four times in about 70-day intervals. The mass loss showed significant differences among the species and was higher in the order of P. densiflora (30.5%), P. koraiensis (27.8%), P. rigida (26.5%), and P. thunbergii (23.6%). The needle litter decomposition showed a negative relationship with the initial surface area, volume, density, cellulose content, and lignin/nitrogen of the litter, and a positive relationship with the initial specific leaf area (SLA), surface-area-to-volume ratio (SA/V), and water- and ethanol-soluble substances. The decomposition rate was highly affected by the physical properties of litter when compared with the initial chemical litter quality, and it was strongly influenced by SLA and SA/V. Accordingly, the physical properties of pine needle litter, especially SLA and SA/V, may be the key factors, and they could be used as predictive indices for the decomposition rate of pine tree litters.

Effects of N Deposition Induced by Environmental Pollution on Litter Decomposition Rate of Cortex phellodendri chinensis in Shenyang City

2012 ◽  
Vol 518-523 ◽  
pp. 1913-1917
Author(s):  
Fang Qin Guo ◽  
Wei Chen
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Mass Loss ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Litter Quality ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Shenyang City ◽  
Litter Decomposition Rate ◽  
Cortex Phellodendri

The effects of N deposition induced by environmental pollution on litter decomposition rate in Shenyang city are analyzed by the reciprocal transplant experiment. By contrasting environments and intraspecific variations in Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis leaf litter quality on mass loss rates to investigate the effects of N deposition on mass loss rates in urban and suburb. The results showed that N deposition in urban significantly affected litter decomposition rate by affecting litter quality and environmental conditions. There was a faster decomposition rate when the environmental conditions or litter quality was affected by N deposition.

scholarly journals Ligustrum lucidum invasion decreases abundance and relative contribution of soil fauna to litter decomposition but increases decomposition rate in a subtropical montane forest of NW Argentina

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romina Daiana Fernandez ◽  
María Laura Moreno ◽  
Natalia Pérez Harguindeguy ◽  
Roxana Aragón
Keyword(s):  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Litter Quality ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Soil Fauna ◽  
Mountain Forest ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Soil Macrofauna ◽  
Ligustrum Lucidum ◽  
Relative Contribution

Invasive plant species can alter litter decomposition rates through changes in litter quality, environment conditions and decomposer organisms (microflora and soil fauna) but limited research has examined the direct impact on soil fauna. We assessed the abundance and relative contribution of soil meso- and macrofauna to litter decomposition in invaded forest by Ligustrum lucidum and non-invaded forest in a subtropical mountain forest of northwest Argentina using litterbags (0.01, 2 and 6 mm mesh size). Additionally, we analyzed litter quality and soil properties of both forest types. Soil fauna abundance was lower in invaded than in non- invaded forest. The contribution of soil macrofauna to litter decomposition was important in both forest types, but soil mesofauna contribution was only significant in non-invaded forest. Litter decomposition was significantly faster in invaded than in non-invaded forest, consistent with its highest quality. Invaded forest had significantly lower litter accumulation, lower soil moisture and greater soil pH than non-invaded forest. Our results showed that, although soil fauna was less abundant and played a less pronounced role in litter decomposition in invaded forest; these changes did not translate into a reduced litter decomposition rate due to the higher quality of litter produced in the invaded forest.

scholarly journals Impact of Tree Litter Identity, Litter Diversity and Habitat Quality on Litter Decomposition Rates in Tropical Moist Evergreen Forest.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyoum Getaneh Aydagnehum ◽  
Olivier Honnay ◽  
Ellen Desie ◽  
Kenny Helsen ◽  
Lisa Couck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Litter Quality ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
Evergreen Forest ◽  
Additive Effects ◽  
Litter Mixtures ◽  
Rooibos Tea ◽  
Litter Diversity

Abstract Background: Attempts to restore degraded highlands by tree planting are common in East Africa. However, up till now, little attention has been given to effects of tree species choice on litter decomposition and nutrient recycling. Method: In this study, three indigenous and two exotic tree species were selected for a litter decomposition study. The objective was to identify optimal tree species combinations and tree diversity levels for the restoration of degraded land via enhanced litter turnover. Litterbags were installed in June 2019 into potential restoration sites (disturbed natural forest and forest plantation) and compared to intact natural forest. The tested tree leaf litters included five monospecific litters, ten mixtures of three species and one mixture of five species. Standard green and rooibos tea were used for comparison. A total of 1033 litters were retrieved for weight loss analysis after one, three, six, and twelve months of incubation. Results: The finding indicates a significant effect of both litter quality and litter diversity on litter decomposition. The nitrogen-fixing native tree Millettia ferruginea showed a comparable decomposition rate as the fast decomposing green tea. The exotic conifer Cupressus lusitanica and the native recalcitrant Syzygium guineense have even a lower decomposition rate than the slowly decomposing rooibos tea. A significant correlation was observed between litter mass loss and initial leaf litter chemical composition. Moreover, we found positive non-additive effects for litter mixtures including nutrient-rich and negative non-additive effects for litter mixtures including poor leaf litters respectively. Conclusion: These findings suggest that both litter quality and litter diversity play an important role in decomposition processes and therefore in the restoration of degraded tropical moist evergreen forest.

scholarly journals Quality or decomposer efficiency – which is most important in the temperature response of litter decomposition? A modelling study using the GLUE methodology

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 8699-8722
Author(s):  
J. Å. M. Wetterstedt ◽  
G. I. Ågren
Keyword(s):  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Litter Quality ◽  
Incubation Temperature ◽  
Temperature Response ◽  
Temperature Shift ◽  
Temperature History ◽  
Modelling Framework ◽  
Needle Litter ◽  
Q Model ◽  
Effects Of Temperature

Abstract. Effects of temperature history on litter decomposition were evaluated using the GLUE modelling framework together with the Q-model calibrated to a needle litter incubation experiment. The needle litter incubation was a full factorial design with initial and final temperatures 5, 15 and 25 °C. Samples were moved from the initial to the final temperature when approximately 12% of the initial carbon had been respired. We used four variations of the Q-model: one or two initial litter quality values and fixed or temperature-dependent decomposer efficiency. The model was calibrated to the constant temperature data subset. Evaluation against temperature shift subsets gave good results, except just after the change in temperature where the model predicted a smaller response than observed. Using one or two initial litter quality values and fixed decomposer efficiency had little effect on final litter quality and respiration at the final incubation temperature. Allowing decomposer efficiency to vary with temperature showed that decomposer efficiency should decrease between 5 to 15 °C but with no change between 15 and 25 °C. A flexible decomposer efficiency resulted also in substantial differences in litter quality at the end of the initial incubation in response to incubation temperature. The results suggests that it is important to consider other factors than the variation in temperature sensitivity with quality when evaluating effects of temperature changes on soil organic matter stability.

scholarly journals Combined effects of water temperature, grazing snails and terrestrial herbivores on leaf decomposition in urban streams

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongyong Xiang ◽  
Yixin Zhang ◽  
David Atkinson ◽  
Raju Sekar
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Water Temperature ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Litter Quality ◽  
Urban Streams ◽  
Combined Effects ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Terrestrial Insects

The decomposition of organic matter in freshwaters, such as leaf litter, can affect global nutrient (e.g., carbon) cycling. This process can be influenced by fast urbanization through increased water temperature, reduced aquatic diversity and changed leaf litter quality traits. In this study, we performed a mesocosm experiment to explore the individual and combined effects of warming (8°C higher and ambient), the presence versus absence of grazing snails (Parafossarulus striatulus), and intraspecific difference of leaf litter quality (intact versus > 40% area of Liriodendron chinense leaves grazed by terrestrial insects) on litter decomposition in urban streams. Litter decomposition rates ranged from 0.019 d−1 to 0.058 d−1 with an average decomposition rate of 0.032 ± 0.002 d−1. All the three factors had significant effects on litter decomposition rate. Warming and the presence of snails accelerated litter decomposition rates by 60% and 35% respectively. Litter decomposition rates of leaves damaged by terrestrial insects were 5% slower than that of intact leaves, because litter quality of terrestrial insect-damaged leaves was lower (i.e., higher specific leaf weight) than intact leaves. For treatments with snails, warming stimulated microbial and snail mediated litter decomposition rates by 35% and 167%, respectively. All combinations of treatments showed additive effects on litter decomposition except for the interaction between warming and snails which showed positive synergistic effects. In addition, neither temperature nor litter quality affected snail growth rate. These results imply that higher water temperature and the presence of abundant snails in urban streams greatly enhanced litter decomposition. Moreover, the effect of pest outbreaks, which resulted in lower litter quality, can cascade to aquatic ecosystems by retarding microbe-mediated litter decomposition. When these factors co-occurred, warming could synergistically interact with snails to speed up the depletion of organic matter, while the effect of leaf quality on litter decomposition may be diminished at high water temperature. These effects could further influence stream food webs and nutrient cycling.

scholarly journals Effects of soil fauna on litter decomposition in Chinese forests: a meta-analysis

PeerJ ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. e12747
Author(s):  
Peng Zan ◽  
Zijun Mao ◽  
Tao Sun
Keyword(s):  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Temperate Forest ◽  
Litter Quality ◽  
Soil Fauna ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
The Impact

Litter quality and climate have been presumed to be the dominant factors regulating litter decomposition rates on broad spatial scales. However, the role of soil fauna on litter decomposition is poorly understood, despite the fact that it could strongly influence decomposition by fragmentation and subsequent modification of the activities of microorganisms.In this study, we carried out a meta-analysis on the effects of soil fauna on litter decomposition rates in Chinese forests, ranging from boreal to tropical forests, based on data from 20 studies. The effects of climatic factors on decomposition rate were assessed by comparing the contribution of soil fauna to litter decomposition from studies carried out at different latitudes.The degree of influence of the soil fauna was in the order tropical (200%) > subtropical (47%) > temperate forest (28%). Comparing the effect size of soil fauna, it was found that when soil fauna was excluded, the decomposition rate, calculated using Olson’s equation, was most affected in tropical forest (−0.77), while the litter decomposition rate both subtropical (−0.36) and temperate forest (−0.19) were also suppressed to varying degrees (P < 0.001). These results highlight that soil fauna could promote litter decomposition to different extents. Using stepwise multiple linear regression, the effect size of the soil fauna was negatively correlated with the cellulose and nitrogen concentrations of the initial litter material. In Chinese forests, litter decomposition rates were reduced, on average, by 65% when soil fauna was excluded. The impact of soil fauna on decomposition was shown to be closely related to climate and litter quality.

Effects of nitrogen deposition on litter decomposition and nutrient release mediated by litter types and seasonal change in a temperate forest

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoyong Yan ◽  
Xiongde Dong ◽  
Binbin Huang ◽  
Honglin Wang ◽  
Ziming Hong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Nutrient Release ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Pinus Koraiensis ◽  
N Addition ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Mixed Litter ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Four Levels

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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