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Home-field advantage of litter decomposition and nitrogen release in forest ecosystems

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Abstract

Litter decomposition is a major fundamental ecological process that regulates nutrient cycling, thereby affecting net ecosystem carbon (C) storage as well as primary productivity in forest ecosystems. Litter decomposes in its home environment faster than in any other environment. However, evidence for this phenomenon, which is called the home-field advantage (HFA), has not been universal. We provide the first HFA quantification of litter decomposition and nutrient release through meta-analysis of published data in global forest ecosystems. Litter mass loss was 4.2 % faster on average, whereas nitrogen (N) release was 1.7 % lower at the home environment than in another environment. However, no HFA of phosphorus (P) release was observed. Broadleaf litter (4.4 %) had a higher litter mass loss HFA than coniferous litter (1.0 %). The positive HFA of N release was found in the coniferous litter. Mass loss HFA was significantly and negatively correlated with the initial lignin:N litter ratio. The litter decomposition and N release HFAs were obtained when mesh size ranged from 0.15 mm to 2.0 mm. The HFA of litter decomposition increased with decomposition duration during the early decomposition stage. The HFA of N release was well correlated with mass loss, and the greatest HFA was at mass loss less than 20 %. Our results suggest that the litter decomposition and N release HFAs are widespread in forest ecosystems. Furthermore, soil mesofauna is significantly involved in the HFA of litter decomposition.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 31070436 and 41030533) and the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, 2012CB416905).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110164, People’s Republic of China

    Qingkui Wang, Micai Zhong & Tongxin He

  2. Huitong National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, Huitong, 418307, People’s Republic of China

    Qingkui Wang

  3. Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, People’s Republic of China

    Micai Zhong & Tongxin He

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  1. Qingkui Wang
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Correspondence to Qingkui Wang.

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Wang, Q., Zhong, M. & He, T. Home-field advantage of litter decomposition and nitrogen release in forest ecosystems. Biol Fertil Soils 49, 427–434 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-012-0741-y

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