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The Effects of Temperature and Mineral Nitrogen and Phosphorus on the Decay Processes and Composition of Soil–Bark Substrates

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Abstract

The bark of coniferous trees (BCT) is an essential component of the litter in boreal forests. The effects of temperature and mineral additives (N and P) on the rate of BCT decomposition (DecR), its constant (k), total loss of C–CO2, and the changes in BCT chemical composition are assessed in a long-term (12 months) laboratory experiment with soil–bark substrates (SBSs) using three contrasting temperatures (2, 12, and 22°C) and sufficient moisture. The temperature coefficient (Q10) for the mean DecR during the experiment varies from 1.1 to 2.5 depending on temperature range and SBS composition. The effect of temperature was the most pronounced during the first and second months of the experiment, explaining 47% of the DecR variation. At later stages of the experiment, the SBS composition affected by the addition of mineral N and P compounds is the key factor influencing the BCT decomposition; it explains 18–63% of the DecR variance. The maximum losses of C–CO2 (158–187 g С/(kg bark), or 34–41% of the initial С content) are observed at 22°C. Irrespectively of the temperature, the most significant loss of ethanol-soluble compounds (56–64%) is recorded in the variant with the mineral N additive, whereas the cellulose content most significantly decreases (by 64–69%) in the variant with combined application of N and P and is almost independent of temperature. The loss of lignin was insignificant, amounting to only 3–12% of its initial content. The addition of mineral N and P is a key factor stimulating the BCT decomposition, considerably shortening the decomposition time and improving the quality of the resulting substrates.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to the experts from the Analytical Laboratory of the Forest Research Institute, Karelian Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, for performing chemical and biochemical analyses.

Funding

The work was carried out in frames of the state research programs of the Pushchino Biological Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences (no. AAAA-A18-118013190177-9) and Karelian Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences and financially supported by Russian Basic Science Foundation (RFBR, project no. 19-04-01282a).

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  1. Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems of Soil Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Institutskaya 2/2, 142290, Pushchino, Moscow oblast, Russia

    V. O. Lopes de Gerenyu & I. N. Kurganova

  2. Institute of Forest Research, Karelian Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Pushkinskaya 11, 185910, Petrozavodsk, Republic of Karelia, Russia

    N. A. Galibina & E. V. Shorohova

  3. Kirov St. Petersburg State Forestry University, Institutskii per. 5, 194021, St. Petersburg, Russia

    E. A. Kapitsa & E. V. Shorohova

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  1. V. O. Lopes de Gerenyu
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  2. I. N. Kurganova
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  3. N. A. Galibina
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  4. E. A. Kapitsa
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Correspondence to V. O. Lopes de Gerenyu.

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Lopes de Gerenyu, V.O., Kurganova, I.N., Galibina, N.A. et al. The Effects of Temperature and Mineral Nitrogen and Phosphorus on the Decay Processes and Composition of Soil–Bark Substrates. Eurasian Soil Sc. 54, 49–62 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229321010087

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