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Role of Chemical Constituents in Regulating Decay Rates and Stable Fractions: Effects of Initial and Changing Chemical Composition on Decomposition and Organic Matter Accumulation

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Plant Litter

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Abstract

We have identified two decomposition patterns; one based on the three-stage model (Type I) with pine litter as model substrate; the other being a two-stage pattern (Type II) with spruce and oak litter as model substrates. The Type I decomposition pattern means a decomposition of non-lignified tissue in an early stage with concentrations of e.g. N and P being rate regulating together with climate. In contrast—decomposition pattern Type II is regulated by just Mn concentration. For both decomposition patterns the rate slows and a limit value may be calculated. These limit values range between c 50 and 100% accumulated mass loss. So far we have seen a positive relationship between limit values and litter Mn concentration based on 21 litter species indicating that higher levels of available Mn will reduce the amount of potential humus or long-term residue, whereas N concentration appears to suppress limit values, but only for decomposition pattern Type I. We also note that the building units of lignin, including guaiacyl, syringyl, and p-hydoxyphenol, vary in their relative abundance in the lignin molecules of different plant species or even genotypes of a single species. The variability of lignin composition may influence decay rates.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Prof. Björn Berg

  2. Department of Biology, University of Mount Union, Alliance, OH, USA

    Prof. Charles McClaugherty

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  1. Prof. Björn Berg
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  2. Prof. Charles McClaugherty
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Correspondence to Björn Berg .

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Berg, B., McClaugherty, C. (2020). Role of Chemical Constituents in Regulating Decay Rates and Stable Fractions: Effects of Initial and Changing Chemical Composition on Decomposition and Organic Matter Accumulation. In: Plant Litter. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59631-6_6

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