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Litter decomposition and soil microbial community composition in three Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) forests along an altitudinal gradient

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Abstract

Background and aims

: The factors controlling litter decomposition and soil microbial community are important regulators of biogeochemical processes. Here we aim to explore controls on litter decomposition dynamics and soil microbial community composition in temperate forest by comparing three Korean pine forests along an altitudinal gradient.

Methods

: Single- and mixed-species litter decomposition rates were determined by the litterbag method and soil microbial community composition was characterized by PLFAs.

Results

: Litter decomposition rates decreased with altitude regardless of litter type, and were controlled by temperature. Generally, fine root litter decomposed more rapidly than leaf litter, and mixed-species litter decomposed faster than single-species. Soil microbial biomass C and N decreased with altitude and varied differently among forest types in response to soil temperature and nutrient status. Fungal: bacterial PLFA ratios were significantly larger in forests receiving relatively poor litter quality inputs. Soil temperature, soil water content, total soil N and P were all directly related to the changes in total PLFAs among three forests.

Conclusions

: In these Korean pines dominated temperate forests, environmental changes associated with altitude gradient drive decomposition dynamics and soil microbial community composition. This implies that climate change might be an important factor affecting these systems in the future.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31370462), and State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences. We thank Guanhua Dai (the Research Station of Changbai Mountain Forest Ecosystem, Chinese Academy of Sciences) for his assistance with field work. We further thank Professor Thomas W. Boutton and Dr. Carissa Wonkka (Texas A&M University) for their helpful comments on this manuscript. Additional thanks are extended to two anonymous reviewers, whose suggestions helped to improve this manuscript. We also gratefully acknowledge the Research Station of Changbai Mountain Forest Ecosystem of Chinese Academy of Sciences for help with logistics, and the Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve for permission to access the study sites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China

    Yong Zhou, Jiaqi Su & Chunwang Xiao

  2. Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843-2138, USA

    Michele Clark

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Jiaqi Su

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  1. Yong Zhou
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  2. Michele Clark
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  4. Chunwang Xiao
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Correspondence to Chunwang Xiao.

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Responsible Editor: Alfonso Escudero.

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Zhou, Y., Clark, M., Su, J. et al. Litter decomposition and soil microbial community composition in three Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) forests along an altitudinal gradient. Plant Soil 386, 171–183 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2254-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2254-y

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