Abstract
Aims
The standard litterbag method isolates soil or litter from decomposing roots by a dense nylon mesh that is likely to underestimate root decomposition rate. Thus, we evaluated the effect of direct contact between roots and soil or litter during root decomposition.
Methods
Schima superba and Cleyera japonica order 1–3, 4–5, and 6 roots were decomposed using two types of litterbags at two soil horizons: standard litterbags (R_O, pure root in O horizon; R_A, pure root in A horizon) and mixed litterbags (R + L_O, mixed root with semi-decomposed litter in O horizon; and R + HS_A, mixed root with humus soil in A horizon). The mass and nutrient dynamics were measured in one year of decomposition.
Results
After one year of decomposition, litterbag types and soil horizons significantly affected root mass and nutrient dynamics. Litterbags mixed with humus soil and litter increased 1–3 order root decomposition rate by 139–143% and 42–89%, respectively. Furthermore, 1–3 order roots had a significantly different decomposition rate than higher-order roots, but standard and mixed litterbags showed the opposite effect. The decomposition rate of 1–3 order roots appears to be more sensitive to litterbag type than higher-order roots.
Conclusions
Directly contact between root and soil or litter was important for root decomposition in corresponding soil layers. Standard litterbags significantly underestimate the decomposition rate of lower-order roots in the early stages of decomposition.
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Acknowledgements
This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32071591). Guantao Chen was supported by the China Scholarship Council. We thank all anonymous reviewers for their very helpful and constructive comments that greatly improved the paper.
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Chen, Gt., Chen, Yq., Peng, Y. et al. Standard litterbags underestimate early-stage lower-order root decomposition rate in a subtropical forest, China. Plant Soil 469, 335–346 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05098-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05098-2