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Non-linear dynamics of litter decomposition under different grazing management regimes

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Abstract

Aims

To understand and model the dynamics of litter decomposition in a climatically seasonal region subject to different modalities of land pasture management.

Methods

Decomposition was quantified through the litterbag technique. Sampling was performed at monthly intervals on an annual basis with replications for 2008, 2009 and 2010. Treatments were native vegetation (NV) and grazed (G), grazed and N-fertilized (GF), hayed (H), hayed and N-fertilized (HF) plots. For each combination of treatment and year, a sigmoid model was fitted. Parameters included remnant litter, steepness and inflection of decomposition curve.

Results

The sigmoid model adjusted excellently well the data. In considering the overall effect on litter decomposition, treatments differ among them as follows symbolically: ((GF > G) > (HF > H)) > > NV. Results are consistent across the yearly replications.

Conclusion

Pasture management (grazed versus hayed) is the primary factor controlling the rate of decomposition, whereas fertilization has a secondary role. The sigmoid model captures realistically the different phases of decomposition detected over a year, namely stationary at conditions of low temperature (later autumn and winter), accelerated at increasing temperature and humidity (transition from spring to summer) and decelerated when residual organic matter becomes less profitable and weather conditions more stringent (summer and earlier autumn).

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to INTA, UNT and CONICET for facilitating our research. José Nasca and Pedro Pérez read an early version of our manuscript and made very useful comments. We would particularly like to thank one of the anonymous reviewers for the insightful comments on the paper. Fundings come from CIUNT project 2008–2009, INTA-AUDEAS-CONADEV 2009–20012 and ANPCyT project 2012–1910.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Investigación Animal del Chaco Semiárido, INTA, Chañar Pozo S/N (4113), Leales, Tucumán, Argentina

    Natalia Banegas

  2. Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias – Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero, Avenida Belgrano 1912 (4200), Santiago del Estero, Argentina

    Natalia Banegas & Ada S. Albanesi

  3. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia – Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Avenida Kirchner 1900 (4000), San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina

    Natalia Banegas & Raúl O. Pedraza

  4. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical, CONICET – UNT, Miguel Lillo 205 (4000), San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina

    Daniel A. Dos Santos

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  1. Natalia Banegas
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  2. Ada S. Albanesi
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  3. Raúl O. Pedraza
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  4. Daniel A. Dos Santos
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Correspondence to Daniel A. Dos Santos.

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Responsible Editor: Alfonso Escudero.

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Banegas, N., Albanesi, A.S., Pedraza, R.O. et al. Non-linear dynamics of litter decomposition under different grazing management regimes. Plant Soil 393, 47–56 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2472-y

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