At the regional scale, substrate properties are the key factors driving litter decomposition rate. In this study, soil temperature was increased by buried heating cables to explore the impacts of climate warming on the physical and chemical properties in branch and leaf of litter. The results showed that after 5 years of soil warming (4 ℃), the contents of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and water-soluble substance in branch litter increased by 35.2%, 40.8% and 7.6%, while that in leaf litter increased by 41.2%, 45.9% and 5.9%, respectively. The contents of carbon (C), cellulose and C/N in branch litter decreased by 5.1%, 11.6% and 28.8%, and in leaf litter decreased by 5.3%, 11.3% and 33.3%, respectively. Soil warming led to 29.8% increase in specific leaf area (SLA) and 40.7% decrease in tensile strength (LTS) of leaf litter. However, warming did not affect lignin content and pH value in both branch and leaf litter. C NMR and infrared spectrum analysis showed that the contents of amino acids, polysaccharides, polyphenols and aliphatic compounds in litter changed significantly after warming. Warming effect differed between litter organs, in that polysaccharides increased significantly only in leaf litter and the increase of amino acids in branch litter was greater than that in leaf litter. Overall, soil warming significantly changed the physical and chemical properties in branch and leaf litter, which might accelerate the decomposition rate at the initial stage due to the increase of N, P contents and the decrease of LTS, but might decelerate the decomposition rate at the later stage due to an increase of complex polymers content in the litter.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.13287/j.1001-9332.202210.003 | DOI Listing |
Ecol Lett
January 2025
Climate Impacts Research Centre, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Empirical studies worldwide show that warming has variable effects on plant litter decomposition, leaving the overall impact of climate change on decomposition uncertain. We conducted a meta-analysis of 109 experimental warming studies across seven continents, using natural and standardised plant material, to assess the overarching effect of warming on litter decomposition and identify potential moderating factors. We determined that at least 5.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFYing Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao
October 2024
School of Fishery, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316000, Zhejiang, China.
Mangrove forests are crucial coastal "blue carbon" ecosystems, known for their significant carbon sequestration capabilities to "carbon neutrality" and mitigating global climate change. We used Pb radioisotope dating to analyze sedimentation rates in the sediments of the Oujiang River Estuary mangrove forest, to calculate organic carbon burial rate, and to assess the characteristics and sources of organic carbon burial. The results showed that the average total organic carbon content in the sediments was 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Plant Sci
December 2024
Centro de Investigación e Innovación para el Cambio Climático (CiiCC), Universidad Santo Tomás, Valdivia, Chile.
Introduction: Secondary forests and coffee cultivation systems with shade trees might have great potential for carbon sequestration as a means of climate change adaptation and mitigation. This study aimed to measure carbon stocks in coffee plantations under different managements and secondary forest systems in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest (San Martín Region).
Methods: The carbon stock in secondary forest trees was estimated using allometric equations, while carbon stocks in soil, herbaceous biomass, and leaf litter were determined through sampling and laboratory analysis.
New Phytol
December 2024
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, 12545, USA.
Deadwood represents globally important carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) pools. Current wood nutrient dynamics models are extensions of those developed for leaf litter decomposition. However, tissue structure and dominant decomposers differ between leaf and woody litter, and recent evidence suggests that decomposer stoichiometry, in combination with litter quality, may affect nutrient release.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicrob Ecol
December 2024
Institute of Bioanalysis, Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Coburg, Germany.
Poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA), a biodegradable plastic, is significantly colonized and degraded by soil microbes under natural field conditions, especially by fungal plant pathogens, raising concerns about potential economic losses. This study hypothesizes that the degradation of biodegradable plastics may increase the presence and abundance of plant pathogens by serving as an additional carbon source, ultimately posing a risk to forest ecosystems. We investigated (i) fungal plant pathogens during the exposure of PBSA in European broadleaved and coniferous forests (two forest types), with a specific focus on potential risk to tree health, and (ii) the response of such fungi to environmental factors, including tree species, soil pH, nutrient availability, moisture content, and the physicochemical properties of leaf litter layer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!