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From leaf traits to agroecosystem functioning: effects of changing resource use strategy during silphium domestication on litter quality and decomposition rate

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Abstract

Aims

We asked if structural and chemical changes in leaf traits, brought about by early domestication in perennial Silphium integrifolium Michx. (Asteraceae), have influenced litter quantity and quality, and decomposition rates. This process is critical to determine how an ecosystem recycles nutrients, renews soil fertility and sequesters C in the soil.

Methods

We compared in a field experiment green and senescent leaves traits of Improved and Wild accessions of Silphium. We performed a laboratory decomposition experiment to determine the decomposition rate, and the change in litter quality over time.

Results

Improved accessions of Silphium produced almost two times more litter than the Wild, which should, in turn, contribute to a higher C input to the soil; however, this litter decomposed faster than that of wild types, and thus had shorter C residence time. Slower decay of litter has been recommended for C sequestration in erodible lands and semi-arid zones, also favoring nutrient retention and slower release of nutrients. The key driver of the decomposition process was resin content and not the usual chemical predictors of litter quality (i.e. N content and C/N ratio). Wild-type litter had thicker leaves with higher resin content, and lower C:N ratio.

Conclusions

Domestication changed litter quality affecting the rate of decomposition and potentially C cycling in the agroecosystem. Improved accessions contributed with more C input litter but with lower quality. The lower resin content of the Improved accessions reduced the litter residence time of C due to faster rate of decomposition.

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Not applicable for this manuscript because all data are included in the Tables and Figures.

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Funding

This work was supported by FONCyT, PICT 2011 0598 and CONICET, PIP 112 2011 0100780. The first author held a postdoctoral scholarship for researchers from CONICET during the time this work was done.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Museo Egidio Feruglio, Conicet, Fontana 140, Trelew, Chubut, Argentina

    Luciana González-Paleo & Damian Ravetta

  2. The Land Institute, 2440 E Water Well Rd, Salina, KS, 67448, USA

    David Van Tassel

Authors
  1. Luciana González-Paleo
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  2. Damian Ravetta
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  3. David Van Tassel
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Contributions

LGP and DAR conceived the ideas and designed methodology; LGP collected the data; LGP analyzed the data; LGP, DAR and DVT contributed to the analysis and interpretation of data, and led the writing of the manuscript. All authors contributed critically to the drafts and gave final approval for publication.

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Correspondence to Luciana González-Paleo.

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Responsible Editor: Luca Bragazza.

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González-Paleo, L., Ravetta, D. & Van Tassel, D. From leaf traits to agroecosystem functioning: effects of changing resource use strategy during silphium domestication on litter quality and decomposition rate. Plant Soil 471, 655–667 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05224-0

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