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Elevated CO2 and nitrogen addition diminish the inhibitory effects of cadmium on leaf litter decomposition and nutrient release

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Abstract

Aims

Rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations and nitrogen (N) deposition alter litter decomposition processes that control soil carbon (C) and nutrient cycles. However, few studies have explored such impacts on litter decomposition and micronutrient and macronutrient (C, N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg)) release in a heavy-metal-contaminated environment.

Methods

We performed an open-top chamber experiment to explore the effects of 15-month elevated CO2 and N addition on leaf litter decomposition rate and nutrient release of Cinnamomum camphora (non-N-fixing species) and Acacia auriculiformis (N-fixing species) during litter decomposition in cadmium (Cd)-contaminated environment.

Results

We found that Cd addition consistently reduced leaf litter nutrient (C, N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) loss, while these negative effects were offset by elevated CO2 (average 10.6%) and N addition (average 23.9%). The mitigative effects of elevated CO2 and N addition together (β = −0.78) far exceeded the effects of each (β = −0.15 for elevated CO2 and β = −0.42 for N addition) separately. Such mitigative effects were related to higher litter quality (the increased N, P and Ca in the initial litter), and higher soil microbial activities (higher ligninase and cellulase activities). Additionally, these mitigative effects on leaf litter nutrient release were greater in C. camphora litter than in A. auriculiformis litter, due to its higher C:N and cellulose: N ratios.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that N addition and elevated CO2 concentration may diminish the negative effects of Cd addition on leaf litter decomposition and increase nutrient cycle, especially in non-N fixing trees under the global change.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31570483, 31870464, 32201406), and Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2021A1515110837).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China

    Xianzhen Luo, Lingling Zhang, Yafeng Yi & Dazhi Wen

  2. Guangdong Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China

    Xianzhen Luo, Lingling Zhang & Dazhi Wen

  3. College of Life Sciences, Ganan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, 341000, China

    Dazhi Wen

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  1. Xianzhen Luo
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  2. Lingling Zhang
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Correspondence to Dazhi Wen.

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Luo, X., Zhang, L., Yi, Y. et al. Elevated CO2 and nitrogen addition diminish the inhibitory effects of cadmium on leaf litter decomposition and nutrient release. Plant Soil 487, 311–324 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-05928-5

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