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Soil organic matter dynamics under decaying wood in a subtropical wet forest: effect of tree species and decay stage

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Abstract

Decaying wood is an important structural and functional component of forests: it contributes to generate habitat diversity, acts as either sink or source of nutrients, and plays a preponderant role in soil formation. Thus, decaying wood might likely have measurable effects on chemical properties of the underlying soil. We hypothesized that decaying wood would have a stronger effect on soil as decomposition advances and that such effect would vary according to wood quality. Twenty logs from two species with contrasting wood properties (Dacryodes excelsa Vahl. and Swietenia macrophylla King) and at two different decay stages (6 and 15 years after falling) were selected, and soil under and 50 cm away from decaying logs was sampled for soil organic matter (SOM) fractions [NaOH-extractable and water-extractable organic matter -(WEOM)] and properties (WEOM aromaticity). NaOH-extractable C and WEOM were higher in the soil influenced by 15-year-old logs, while the degree of aromaticity of WEOM was higher in the soil influenced by the 6-year-old logs. Decaying logs did influence properties of the underlying soil with differing effects according to the species since there was more NaOH-extractable C in the soil associated to D. excelsa logs and more WEOM in the soil associated to S. macrophylla older logs. It is proposed that such effects occurred through changes in the relative quantity and quality of different SOM fractions, as influenced by species and advancement in decomposition. Through its effect on SOM and nutrient dynamics, decaying wood can contribute to the spatial heterogeneity of soil properties, and can affect process of soil formation and nutrient cycling.

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Abbreviations

ASC:

Acid soluble carbon

ASPS:

Acid soluble poly-saccharides

FI:

Fluorescence intensity

HiN:

Hydrophilic neutrals

HMW-FA:

High molecular weight fulvic acids

LMW-FA:

Low molecular weight fulvic acids

SUVa :

Specific UV absorption coefficient

WSC:

Water soluble carbon

WEOM:

Water-extractable organic matter

WSPP:

Water soluble polyphenols

WSPS:

Water soluble poly-saccharides

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Acknowledgments

This research was performed under National Science Foundation grant (DEB-0218039) to Institute of Tropical Ecosystem Studies, University of Puerto Rico (UPR), and International Institute of Tropical Forestry (IITF). Additional support was provided by U.S. Forest Service, and Biology Graduate Program –UPR. Dr. D. Lodge provided preliminary data, Samuel Moya and Carlos Estrada helped to locate and identify logs, Maria Rivera, Andrés Fernández, and Juan Bello helped in field and laboratory; Mary J. Sánchez (IITF) kindly provided unpublished data; Dr. Laodong Gou (University of Alaska) made possible extraction and optical characterization of WEOM; Ryan Hangs, Jeff Schoenau, William McDowell, Ariel Lugo, Frank Wadsworth, and two anonymous reviewers made valuable comments on early versions of the manuscript.

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  1. Marcela Zalamea

    Present address: , Tom Kristensens Vej 26, 5 tv, 2300, Copenhagen S, Denmark

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, San Juan, PR, USA

    Marcela Zalamea

  2. USDA Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry, Río Piedras, San Juan, PR, USA

    Marcela Zalamea & Grizelle González

  3. Palmer Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA

    Chien-Lu Ping & Gary Michaelson

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  1. Marcela Zalamea
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  2. Grizelle González
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  3. Chien-Lu Ping
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Correspondence to Marcela Zalamea.

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Zalamea, M., González, G., Ping, CL. et al. Soil organic matter dynamics under decaying wood in a subtropical wet forest: effect of tree species and decay stage. Plant Soil 296, 173–185 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9307-4

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