Abstract
The decomposition process in the forest ecosystem is regulated by environmental conditions, the chemical nature of litters, and microbial activities. We aim this study to understand the weight loss rate, nutrient release, and controlling factors of fine root decomposition in lower tropical forest (LTF) and upper tropical forest (UTF) of Nepal Himalaya. The nylon net bag technique was used to determine the decomposition rate of the fine root. Five gram air dried samples of < 2 mm and 2–5 mm size class fine roots were kept in nylon net bags and buried at 0–10 cm soil depth in each forest. Bags were recovered from both forests after 60, 120, 180, 240, 300, 365, 425, 485, and 545 days of sample placement and preceded for the estimation of weight loss and nutrient analysis. Initially, the weight loss was fast up to 120 days followed by a slow decomposition rate from the middle to the last phase of the experiment in both forests. At the 365 days of experiment, weight loss in < 2 mm fine root was 12.67% faster in LTF than UTF, while that in 2–5 mm sized root was 21.05% faster in LTF than UTF. An increase in nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the residual materials is accompanied with weight loss of fine root. At the end of experiment, the release of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K) in both sized roots was faster in LTF than UTF. The N, P, and K release rates in LTF were 11.36, 8.88, and 3.09% faster than UTF in less than 2 mm root size, and 17.10, 10.25, and 6.38% faster in 2–5 mm root size, respectively. The belowground input of nutrients through fine root plays a significant role in nutrient accumulation in soil which contributes to increase the entire forest production.
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The data obtained and analyzed during the present study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable requests.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the Head, Department of Botany, Post Graduate Campus, Tribhuvan University, Biratnagar, Nepal for providing laboratory and library facilities. KP is thankful to the University Grants Commission, Nepal for Ph.D. fellowship.
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KP carried out field and laboratory works, analyzed data, designed and drafted the manuscript. TN designed and supervised the research, revised the manuscript. TP helped in field and lab work, analyzed data, and revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Bhattarai, K.P., Mandal, T.N. & Gautam, T.P. Fine root decomposition and nutrient release in two tropical forests of Central Himalaya: a comparative and factor controlling approach. Trop Ecol 63, 440–452 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-022-00231-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-022-00231-3