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Nitrogen transfer in litter mixture enhances decomposition rate, temperature sensitivity, and C quality changes

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Abstract

Background and aims

Litter decomposition is a critical process in terrestrial ecosystems and, since in natural conditions plant litter occurs in mixtures, understanding the interactive effects of mixed litter is of great ecological relevance. In this context, we test the hypothesis that N transfer between high quality litter to N-poor substrates are at the base of synergistic interactions, positively affecting litter decay rate, temperature sensitivity, and changes of organic C quality.

Methods

We carried out a manipulative experiment using four organic substrates, encompassing a wide range of biochemical quality (Hedera helix and Quercus ilex leaf litter, cellulose strips and woody sticks), each decomposing either separately or in matched pair mixtures for 360 days. Organic substrates were characterized for mass loss, C and N content and by 13C CPMAS NMR to assess biochemical quality changes.

Results

Litter response to mixing was related to the biochemical quality of the components in the mixture: additive when substrates with similarly high (H. helix and Q. ilex) or low (cellulose and wood) N content were paired, but synergistic when substrates with contrasting N content were associated (either of the two leaf litters with either cellulose or wood). Overall, no antagonist effects were observed in this experiment. Interestingly, decomposition of cellulose and wood showed an higher temperature sensitivity, compared to monospecific substrates, when paired with N rich materials. Significant N transfer was found from N rich litter to N poor substrates and 13C CPMAS NMR showed rapid changes of C quality of cellulose and wood sticks only when paired with N rich litter.

Conclusions

Our findings support the hypothesis that mixing litters of different quality, with quality expressed in terms of C/N ratio and N content, increases decomposition rate and temperature sensitivity of the lower quality substrates.

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Acknowledgments

The 13C-CPMAS NMR measurements were performed at the CERMANU-Interdepartmental Research Centre, University of Napoli Federico II. The work has been supported with grants by MIUR (PRIN 2005–050197 and FISR MESCOSAGR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Agraria, University of Naples Federico II, via Università 100, 80055, Portici, NA, Italy

    Giuliano Bonanomi, Guido Incerti & Stefano Mazzoleni

  2. CRA-ORT, Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura - Centro di Ricerca per l’Orticoltura Pontecagnano, Salerno, Italy

    Manuela Capodilupo

Authors
  1. Giuliano Bonanomi
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  2. Manuela Capodilupo
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  3. Guido Incerti
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  4. Stefano Mazzoleni
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Correspondence to Giuliano Bonanomi.

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Responsible Editor: Juha Mikola..

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Bonanomi, G., Capodilupo, M., Incerti, G. et al. Nitrogen transfer in litter mixture enhances decomposition rate, temperature sensitivity, and C quality changes. Plant Soil 381, 307–321 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2119-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2119-4

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