Abstract
Aims
Although litter decomposition is closely linked to soil biochemical processes, the non-additive effects of litter mixing on soil C:N:P stoichiometry and the factors that regulate it have been rarely studied.
Methods
In this study, an in situ foliar litter decomposition experiment examined the effects of mixtures of the foliar litter of Eucalyptus urophylla × grandis with five native tree species (Acacia crassicarpa, Castanopsis hystrix, Michelia macclurei, Magnolia sumatrana and Mytilaria laosensis) in subtropical China. We investigated the decomposition and element release dynamics of single and mixed foliar litters, their non-additive effects on soil C:N:P stoichiometry, and the potential factors regulating this non-additive effect.
Results
Our results show that foliar litter mixing promoted mass loss and element release, with less mass remaining for one mixture. The magnitude of the non-additive effects of decomposing mixed foliar litter on mass remaining, element release, and soil C:N:P stoichiometry varied by litter type. Specifically, antagonistic effects were common for mass remaining (accounting for 10.0% of all cases), the release of N (16.7%) and N:P (10.0%) of mixed foliar litter, and soil C:N (13.3%). Synergistic effects were common for the release of C (23.3%), P (10.0%), C:N (23.3%), C:P (26.7%) of mixed foliar litter, and C (20.0%), N (16.7%), P (16.7%), C:P (13.3%), N:P (10.0%) of soil. Mixing the foliar litter of Eucalyptus with some species had significant synergistic effects on soil N and N:P, whereas mixing it with other species had significant antagonistic effects on soil C:P and N:P.
Conclusions
Overall, foliar litter mixtures affected soil C:N:P stoichiometry in non-additive ways, and the magnitude and direction of these effects were jointly regulated by edaphic factors, initial litter chemical traits, and the presence of an invasive species, Eucalyptus.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
We declared that the data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
References
Bai YX, Zhou YC, An ZF, Du JJ, Zhang XY, Chang SX (2022) Tree species identity and mixing ratio affected several metallic elements release from mixed litter in coniferous-broadleaf plantations in subtropical China. Sci Total Environ 838:156143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156143
Ball BA, Bradford AM, Hunter DM (2009) Nitrogen and phosphorus release from mixed litter layers is lower than predicted from single species decay. Ecosystems 12:87–100. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-008-9208-2
Barantal S, Roy J, Fromin N, Schimann H, Hättenschwiler S (2011) Long-term presence of tree species but not chemical diversity affect litter mixture effects on decomposition in a neotropical rainforest. Oecologia 167:241–252. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-011-1966-4
Bonanomi G, Capodilupo M, Incerti G, Mazzoleni S (2014) Nitrogen transfer in litter mixture enhances decomposition rate, temperature sensitivity, and C quality changes. Plant Soil 381:307–321. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2119-4
Bradford MA, Berg B, Maynard DS, Wieder WR, Wood SA (2016) Understanding the dominant controls on litter decomposition. J Ecol 104:229–238. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12507
Bray RH, Kurtz LT (1945) Determination of total, organic, and available forms of phosphorus in soils. Soil Sci 59:39–46. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-194501000-00006
Bray SR, Kitajima K, Mack MC (2012) Temporal dynamics of microbial communities on decomposing leaf litter of 10 plant species in relation to decomposition rate. Soil Biol Biochem 44:30–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2012.02.009
Bui EN, Henderson BL (2013) C:N: P stoichiometry in Australian soils with respect to vegetation and environmental factors. Plant Soil 373:553–568. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1823-9
Chen YC, Ma SQ, Sun J, Wang XD, Cheng GW, Lu XY (2017) Chemical diversity and incubation time affect non-additive responses of soil carbon and nitrogen cycling to litter mixtures from an alpine steppe soil. Soil Biol Biochem 109:124–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.02.007
Chen YC, Ma SQ, Liu J, Cheng GW, Lu XY (2018) Soil C and N dynamics and their non-additive responses to litter mixture under different moisture conditions from an alpine steppe soil, Northern Tibet. Soil Biol Biochem 125:231–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2018.07.016
Cleveland CC, Liptzin D (2007) C:N: P stoichiometry in soil: Is there a “Redfield ratio” for the microbial biomass? Biogeochemistry 85:235–252. https://doi.org/10.2307/20456544
Cornwell WK, Cornelissen JHC, Amatangelo K, Dorrepaal E, Eviner VT, Godoy O, Hobbie SE, Hoorens B, Kurokawa H, Pérez-Harguindeguy N et al (2008) Plant species traits are the predominant control on litter decomposition rates within biomes worldwide. Ecol Lett 11:1065–1071. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01219.x
Epps KY, Comerford NB, Reeves JB, Cropper WP, Araujo QR (2007) Chemical diversity-highlighting a species richness and ecosystem function disconnect. Oikos 116:1831–1840. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2007.0030-1299.15853.x
FAO (2020) Global Forest Resources Assessment; Main Report. Rome, Italy, FAO
Fujii S, Makita N, Mori AS, Takeda H (2016) Plant species control and soil faunal involvement in the processes of above-and belowground litter decomposition. Oikos 125:883–892. https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.02457
Gartner TB, Cardon ZG (2004) Decomposition dynamics in mixed-species leaf litter. Oikos 104:230–246. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.12738.x
Handa IT, Aerts R, Berendse F, Berg MP, Bruder A, Butenschoen O, Chauvet E, Gessner MO, Jabiol J, Makkonen M, McKie BG, Malmqvist B, Peeters ETHM, Scheu S, Schmid B, Van Ruijven J, Vos VCA, Hättenschwiler S (2014) Consequences of biodiversity loss for litter decomposition across biomes. Nature 509:218–221. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13247
Hättenschwiler S, Gasser P (2005) Soil animals alter plant litter diversity effects on decomposition. Proc Natl Acad Sci 102:1519–1524. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0404977102
Hättenschwiler S, Tiunov AV, Scheu S (2005) Biodiversity and litter decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems. Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 36:191–218. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.36.112904.151932
He W, Lei L, Ma ZY, Teng MJ, Wang PC, Yan ZG, Huang ZL, Zeng LX, Xiao WF (2020) Nonadditive effects of decomposing mixed foliar litter on the release of several metallic elements in a Pinus massoniana Lamb. forest. Annals Forest Sci 77:46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-020-00955-z
He P, Lu J, Ren YH, Li JR, Hou L, Deng XS, Gao T, Cheng F (2023) Altitude and slope aspects as the key factors affecting the change of C:N: P stoichiometry in the leaf-litter-soil system of alpine timberline ecotones of the Sygera Mountains in Southeast Tibet. China Geoderma Regional 32:e00602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2022.e00602
Huang XM, Liu SR, You YM, Wen YG, Wang H, Wang JX (2017) Microbial community and associated enzymes activity influence soil carbon chemical composition in Eucalyptus urophylla plantation with mixing N2-fixing species in subtropical China. Plant Soil 414:199–212. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-3117-5
Jiang JC, Li YK, Wang MZ, Zhou CP, Cao GM, Shi PL, Song MH (2013) Litter species traits, but not richness, contribute to carbon and nitrogen dynamics in an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau. Plant Soil 373:931–941. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1859-x
Lecerf A, Risnoveanu G, Popescu C, Gessner MO, Chauvet E (2007) Decomposition of diverse litter combinations in streams. Ecology 88:219–227. https://doi.org/10.1890/0012-9658(2007)88[219:DODLMI]2.0.CO;2
Liu J, Liu XY, Song QN, Compson ZG, LeRoy CJ, Luan FG, Wang H, Hu YL, Yang QP (2020) Synergistic effects: a common theme in mixed-species litter decomposition. New Phytol 227:757–765. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16556
Lummer D, Scheu S, Butenschoen O (2012) Connecting litter quality, microbial community and nitrogen transfer mechanisms in decomposing litter mixtures. Oikos 121:1649–1655. https://doi.org/10.2307/41686674
Madritch MD, Cardinale BJ (2007) Impacts of tree species diversity on litter decomposition in northern temperate forests of Wisconsin, USA: A multi-site experiment along a latitudinal gradient. Plant Soil 292:147–159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9209-5
Makkonen M, Berg MP, van Logtestijn RSP, van Hal JR, Aerts R (2013) Do physical plant litter traits explain non-additivity in litter mixtures? A test of the improved microenvironmental conditions theory. Oikos 122:987–997. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.20750.x
Manzoni S, Trofymow JA, Jackson RB, Porporato A (2010) Stoichiometric controls on carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus dynamics in decomposing litter. Ecol Monogr 80:89–106. https://doi.org/10.1890/09-0179.1
Mao B, Yu ZY, Zeng DH (2015) Non-additive effects of species mixing on litter mass loss and chemical properties in a Mongolian pine plantation of Northeast China. Plant Soil 396:339–351. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2593-3
Meier CL, Bowman WD (2008) Links between plant litter chemistry, species diversity, and below-ground ecosystem function. Proceed Nat Acad Sci, USA 105:19780–19785. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0805600105
Meier CL, Bowman WD (2010) Chemical composition and diversity influence non-additive effects of litter mixtures on soil carbon and nitrogen cycling: implications for plant species loss. Soil Biol Biochem 42:1447–1454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2010.05.005
Midgley MG, Brzostek E, Phillips RP (2015) Decay rates of leaf litters from arbuscular mycorrhizal trees are more sensitive to soil effects than litters from ectomycorrhizal trees. J Ecol 103:1454–1463. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12467
Mooshammer M, Wanek W, Schnecker J, Wild B, Leitner S, Hofhansl F, Blöchl A, Hämmerle I, Frank AH, Fuchslueger L, Keiblinger KM, Zechmeister-Boltenstern S, Richter A (2012) Stoichiometric controls of nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in decomposing beech leaf litter. Ecology 93:770–782. https://doi.org/10.1890/11-0721.1
Mooshammer M, Wanek W, Zechmeister-Boltenstern S, Richter A (2014) Stoichiometric imbalances between terrestrial decomposer communities and their resources: mechanisms and implications of microbial adaptations to their resources. Front Microbiol 5:22. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00022
Mungai NW, Motavalli PP (2006) Litter quality effects on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics in temperate alley cropping systems. Appl Soil Ecol 31:32–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2005.04.009
Nickmans H, Jonard M, Verheyen K, Ponette Q (2019) Modelling leaf dispersal and nutrient return in tree species mixtures. For Ecol Manage 436:68–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2019.01.001
Parton W, Silver WL, Burke IC, Grassens L, Harmon ME, Currie WS, King JY, Adair EC, Brandt LA, Hart SC, Fasth B (2007) Global-scale similarities in nitrogen release patterns during long-term decomposition. Science 315:361–364. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1134853
Porre RJ, Werf WVD, Deyn GBD, Stomph TJ, Hoffland E (2020) Is litter decomposition enhanced in species mixtures? A Meta-Anal Soil Biol Biochem 145:107791. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2020.107791
Prescott CE, Zabek LM, Staley CL, Kabzems R (2000) Decomposition of broadleaf and needle litter in forests of British Columbia: Influences of litter type, forest type, and litter mixtures. Can J for Res 30:1742–1750. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-30-11-1742
Sarabi HJ, Pilehvar B, Vajari KA, Waez-Mousavi SM (2021) Effects of tree species diversity on leaf litter decomposition process in semi-arid Mediterranean oak forests. Eur J Forest Res 140:1377–1390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-021-01403-x
Schimel JP, Hättenschwiler S (2007) Nitrogen transfer between decomposing leaves of different N status. Soil Biol Biochem 39:1428–1436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.12.037
Shi XZ, Yu DS, Warner ED, Pan XZ, Petersen GW, Gong ZG, Weindorf DC (2004) Soil database of 1:1,000,000 digital soil survey and reference system of the Chinese genetic soil classification system. Soil Survery Horizons 45:129–136. https://doi.org/10.2136/sh2004.4.0129
Sterner RW, Elser JJ (2002) Ecological stoichiometry: The biology of elements from molecules to the biosphere. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
Tian H, Chen G, Zhang C, Melillo JM, Hall CA (2010) Pattern and variation of C: N: P ratios in China’s soil: A synthesis of observational data. Biogeochemistry 98:139–151. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-009-9382-0
Uselman SM, Qualls RG, Lilienfein J (2012) Quality of soluble organic C, N, and P produced by different types and species of litter: Root litter versus leaf litter. Soil Biology Biochemistry 54:57–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2012.03.021
Walkley A, Black IA (1934) An examination of the degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter, and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci 37:29–38. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-193401000-00003
Wall DH, Bradford MA, John MG, Trofymow JA, Behan-Pelletier V, Bignell DE, Dangerfield M, Parton WJ, Rusek J, Voigt W et al (2008) Global decomposition experiment shows soil animal impacts on decomposition are climate-dependent. Glob Change Biol 14:2661–2677. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2008.01672.x
Wardle DA, Bardgett RD, Klironomos JN, Setälä H, van der Puttern WH, Wall DH (2004) Ecological linkages between aboveground and belowground biota. Science 304:1629–1633. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1094875
Wieder WR, Cleveland CC, Townsend AR (2009) Controls over leaf litter decomposition in wet tropical forests. Ecology 90:3333–3341. https://doi.org/10.1890/08-2294.1
Wu DD, Li TT, Wan SQ (2013) Time and litter species composition affect litter-mixing effects on decomposition rates. Plant Soil 371:355–366. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1697-x
Yang K, Zhu JJ, Zhang WW, Zhang Q, Lu DL, Zhang YK, Zheng X, Xu S, Wang GG (2022) Litter decomposition and nutrient release from monospecific and mixed litters: Comparisons of litter quality, fauna and decomposition site effects. J Ecol 110:1673–1686. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13902
Zechmeister-Boltenstern S, Keiblinger KM, Mooshammer M, Peñuelas J, Richter A, Sardans J, Wanek W (2015) The application of ecological stoichiometry to plant–microbial–soil organic matter transformations. Ecol Monogr 85:133–155. https://doi.org/10.1890/14-0777.1
Zeng LX, He W, Teng MJ, Luo X, Yan ZG, Huang ZL, Zhou ZX, Wang PC, Xiao WF (2018) Effects of mixed leaf litter from predominant afforestation tree species on decomposition rates in the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Sci Total Environ 639:679–686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.208
Zhao FZ, Sun J, Ren CJ, Kang D, Deng J, Han XH, Yang GH, Feng YZ, Ren GX (2015) Land use change influences soil C, N and P stoichiometry under “grain-to-green program” in China. Sci Rep 5:10195. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep10195
Acknowledgements
We thank Yongtang Wang, Mengyun Tang and Weiling Zhai for their assistance in this study. We also thank the editors and anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.
Funding
This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 31600493 and 32160359).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Alfonso Escudero.
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
He, P., Deng, X., Liu, J. et al. Non-additive responses of litter decomposition, litter chemical traits, and soil C:N:P stoichiometry to mixing with Eucalyptus in plantation environments. Plant Soil (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06470-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06470-0