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The roles of initial litter traits in regulating litter decomposition: a “common plot” experiment in a subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest

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Abstract

Background and aims

Leaf litter decomposition constitutes a valuable ecosystem service by recycling nutrients, transferring energy, and sequestrating carbon (C) in terrestrial ecosystems. However, variations in microclimate and decomposers among studies have impeded a mechanistic understanding of what controls litter decomposition. We conducted a “common plot” experiment leveling-off impacts of environmental and biotic factors to explore roles of the initial leaf litter traits in decomposition.

Methods

The experiment was carried out in an evergreen broadleaf forest in the Wuyi Mountains from May 2017 to August 2018. Leaf litter was collected from Populus deltoids in a nitrogen (N) addition experiment at Dongtai Forest Farm, Liriodendron chinense × tulipifera and Platanus acerifolia on campus Nanjing Forestry University, and Quercus variabilis and Pinus taeda at Xiashu Forest Farm.

Results

Our results showed that N addition significantly increased leaf litter decomposition of P. deltoids. This may result from N induced increases in litter quality, indicated by a high N content and a low C:N ratio of leaf litter. Across the five tree species (with no litter from P. deltoids under N addition treatment), we found litter decomposition of the coniferous tree (P. taeda) was much lower than that of the other four broadleaf trees due to its lower litter quality. Multiple regression analyses indicated that the initial C:N ratio and sodium (Na) content that was critical for decomposers dominated decomposition.

Conclusions

Our results confirmed the importance of the initial litter quality, such as C:N ratio, in regulating leaf litter decomposition. In addition, our results suggest the Na control of the decomposition of leaf litter in subtropical ecosystems through Na limiting the activity and abundance of decomposers in brown food webs.

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Acknowledgements

This study is financially supported by the National Science Foundation of China (31700376), the Natural Science Key Fund for Colleges and Universities of Jiangsu Province of China (17KJA180006), the Six Talent Peaks Program of Jiangsu Province (JY-041& TD-XYDXX-006), the “5151” Talent Program of Nanjing Forestry University, and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).

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Author notes

  1. Qian Li and Menghua Zhang contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Analysis and Testing Center, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, China

    Qian Li

  2. College of Biology and the Environment, Co-Innovation Centre for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, China

    Menghua Zhang, Qinghong Geng, Honghua Ruan & Xia Xu

  3. Wuyishan National Park, Wuyishan, 354300, Fujian, China

    Changshan Jin & Jianqin Zhu

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  1. Qian Li
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  3. Qinghong Geng
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Contributions

All authors contributed intellectual input and assistance to this study and manuscript preparation. X.X. conceived the idea and designed the study. M.Z. and Q. L. collected and analyzed the data with help from X.X. Q. L. and M.Z. wrote the paper with input from all authors.

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Correspondence to Xia Xu.

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Li, Q., Zhang, M., Geng, Q. et al. The roles of initial litter traits in regulating litter decomposition: a “common plot” experiment in a subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest. Plant Soil 452, 207–216 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04563-8

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