六盘山林下地被物分布特征

对六盘山不同植被的地被物分布特征进行研究发现,华北落叶松、白桦和油松林下草本植物物种丰富。辽东栎林枯落物叶片宽厚肥大,分解后枯落物较为松软,厚度最大,枯落物总储量仅次于华北落叶松。不同森林植被枯落物中,针叶枯落物所占比例最大。未分解层储量／厚度比值小于半分解层,9月份针叶林枯落物储量／厚度比值最大。天然次生林辽东栎林植被结构复杂,尽管不断有枯落物补充,枯落物却能迅速破碎分解,一方面能够迅速补充土壤养分含量,另一方面能够在地表形成更为疏松的枯落物层,因此7—9月份辽东栎林枯落物变化较大。     

岷江上游中山区低效林改造对枯落物水文作用的影响

川西地区存在大面积的低效林,其生态功能极弱。通过萌蘖更新技术对岷江上游中山区低效灌丛林地进行改造,定位监测对枯落物水文作用的影响,结果显示:(1)低效林改造1年后,枯落物层厚度和贮量均有明显的改善,总贮量较改造前提高了32.68%,厚度从未分解层向半分解层或分解层转化的趋势加快;(2)改造低效林枯落物层最大持水量较改造前增加了39.60%,影响枯落物层最大持水量的主要因素是枯落物贮量和分解程度;(3)改造林地枯落物对降雨拦截能力有一定的提高;(4)岷江上游中山区枯落物持水量与浸水时间呈对数关系(S=klnt p),枯落物的吸水速率与浸泡时间呈反曲线关系(V=p k-t1)。今后应加强对改造林地枯落物的分解速率、土壤的生态功能等方面的研究,以系统综合地讨论这一地区低效林改造的生态效果。     

辽西海棠山森林枯落物持水与土壤贮水能力研究

从森林涵养水源的角度出发,对辽西海棠山6种林分的枯落物持水能力和土壤贮水能力进行了研究,结果表明,森林枯落物的厚度为1.3～3.0 mm.依次为油松人工林>针阔混交林>五角枫人工林>核桃秋林>黄檗林>杂木林,枯落物蓄积量为3.68～12.46 t/hm2,依次为油松人工林>核桃秋林>黄檗林>针阔混交林>五角枫人工林>杂木林;枯落物最大持水量为1.09～4.33 mm,依次以黄檗林>核桃秋林>油松人工林>五角枫人工林>针阔混交林>杂木林,枯落物最大持水率为285.32 oA～504.01%,依次为黄檗林>核桃楸林>五角枫人工林>油松人工林>杂木林>针阔混交林;枯落物有效拦蓄深为0.27～0.99 mm,依次为:黄檗林>五角枫人工林>核桃楸林>油松人工林>杂木林>针阔混交林,有效拦蓄率为234.35%～421.67%,依次为黄檗林>核桃楸林>五角枫人工林>油松人工林>杂木林>针阔混交林;枯落物持水量在最初的2 h内迅速增加,而后增加速度逐步放缓,未分解层和半分解层枯落物均在18 h左右达到饱和,持水量与浸泡的关系为H=Aln(t)+B;五角枫人工林(123.6 t/hm2)、油松人工林(107.4 t/hm2)和针阔混交林(103.6 t/hm2)的土壤贮水力相对较强,黄檗林(84.4 t/hm2)、核桃秋林(60.6 t/hm2)和杂木林(55.8 t/hm2)的土壤贮水能力相对较弱.     

砒砂岩区主要造林树种枯落物持水性能及土壤物理性质

为揭示砒砂岩区主要造林树种枯落物持水性能及林下土壤物理性质变化特征,以位于黄土高原北部准格尔旗砒砂岩区6种林分类型为研究对象,运用浸泡法和烘干法,对林下枯落物、土壤(0—50 cm)的持水性能及物理性质进行研究。结果表明:(1)砒砂岩区6种林分类型林下枯落物厚度范围为0.73～2.77 cm,总蓄积量范围为1.47～7.93 t/hm~2。枯落物层厚度、总蓄积量大小依次为油松、侧柏、沙棘、柠条锦鸡儿、山杏和撂荒地。枯落物未分解层厚度及其蓄积量均明显大于半分解层。(2)林下枯落物最大持水率范围为149.48%～267.32%,枯落物最大持水率与有效拦蓄量大小顺序一致,为撂荒地柠条锦鸡儿沙棘山杏侧柏油松;枯落物最大持水量和有效拦蓄量均呈现出未分解层高于半分解层。(3)林下枯落物层在浸泡0.5 h吸水速率最快,浸泡1 h持水量增加迅速,浸泡8 h吸水速率和持水量增量趋近于0。(4)林下土壤容重低于撂荒地;总孔隙度范围为44.36%～32.57%,最大持水量范围为8.89～17.43 mm,均呈现油松林下最大,山杏林下最小。(5)林下枯落物蓄积量与土壤容重呈负相关关系,与土壤孔隙度、毛管孔隙度和非毛管孔隙度分别呈正相关关系。油松林、侧柏林地具有显著的保持水土能力。研究成果为开展砒砂岩区水土流失综合整治和生态修复提供了参考依据。     

封育措施下荒漠草原不同枯落物分解特征

以荒漠草原优势植物羊草(Leymus chinensis)、短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)及羊草+短花针茅(Leymus chinensis+Stipa breviflora)枯落物为研究对象,通过模拟试验,采用分解袋法,测定不同枯落物在分解过程中残留率的变化,分析枯落物元素释放规律及分解过程中对土壤性质的影响。结果表明:(1)在整个试验期内,不同枯落物残留率和质量损失率呈慢—快趋势,分解速率表现为羊草+短花针茅>短花针茅>羊草;试验区枯落物分解可以较好地拟合为Olson模型,不同枯落物分解50%和95%分别需要2.79~3.15,12.05~13.62年;(2)经过360天的分解,不同枯落物的全C、N、P均表现为释放的状态(NAI<100%),其中全C呈现波动释放的变化特征,释放比例为47.88%~54.54%;全N、全P呈释放—富集—释放的变化特征,其释放比例分别为36.34%~47.87%,57.08%~74.71%。(3)不同枯落物的分解均提高土壤有机C、N、P含量,均比初始值分别增加1.41~1.50,1.27~1.40,0.14~0.15 g/kg。研究结果为草地生态系统元素循环过程提供理论依据。     

宁夏森林枯落物储量与持水性能分析

采用野外实地调查与室内分析相结合的方法,对宁夏10种主要森林类型林下枯落物(未分解层和半分解层)储量、厚度、分解现状、持水率、吸水速率以及拦蓄量进行研究,并分析同一群落类型枯落物持水特性在不同区域的变化。结果表明:枯落物储量在1.06～76.49t/hm2之间,除辽东栎林外,针叶林蓄积普遍高于阔叶林;各森林类型枯落物的最大持水率,未分解层为117.82%～208.05%,半分解层为169.34%～302.85%,持水率随着浸泡时间的延长均按照对数方程增加;研究同一类型不同区域枯落物各层持水性能,发现宁夏范围内青海云杉林各层持水性能无明显差异,而小叶杨林下各层持水性能随区域、林龄的变化有显著变化,而华北落叶松林和油松林各样点都呈现未分解层差异显著,而半分解层差异较小的规律;各森林类型枯落物层的有效拦蓄量为0.11～10.27mm,且针叶林明显大于阔叶林。     

岷江上游两种亚高山林分枯落物层水文特征研究

研究对比了岷江上游岷江冷杉林和川滇高山栎林枯落物层的水文特征,结果表明,川滇高山栎林凋落呈现多峰型,凋落高峰出现在6月,8月和10月;而岷江冷杉林凋落则为双峰型,凋落高峰出现在10月份和1月份.川滇高山栎林的枯落物未分解层、半分解层和已分解层的现存量分别为4.00 t/hm2.6.77 t/hm2和14.43t/hm2;而岷江冷杉林的枯落物未分解层、半分解层和已分解层的现存量分别为1.14 t/hm2,7.40 t/hm2.11.99t/hm2.川滇高山栎林和岷江冷杉林枯落物总最大持水量为分别为(60.23±11.82)t/hm2和(66.79±24.05)t/hm2.两种森林群落类型枯落物持水量(mm)与浸水时间(h)呈较好的对数函数关系.枯落物未分解层、半分解层和已分解层的持水量与浸水时间之间均呈极显著相关(p<0.001).     

河北太行山丘陵区不同林分类型枯落物与土壤持水效益

为揭示太行山丘陵区不同林分类型水土保持效益规律,选取毛白杨林,侧柏林,杂木林和灌丛这4种典型林分的林下枯落物和林地土壤作为研究对象,分别采用室内浸水法和环刀法对4种林分林下枯落物和林地土壤的持水特性进行研究。结果表明:4种林分枯落物蓄积量表现为侧柏林(10.55t/hm2)毛白杨林(7.25t/hm2)灌丛(6.93t/hm2)杂木林(6.39t/hm2)。灌丛枯落物的最大持水量最大,为17.28t/hm2,而杂木林的最小,为12.50t/hm2。林下枯落物的持水量与持水时间呈对数关系:Q=aln(t)+b,枯落物的吸水速率与持水时间呈幂函数关系:V=ktn。4种林分枯落物有效拦蓄量灌丛最大,为13.55t/hm2,杂木林最小,为9.95t/hm2。0—40cm的土壤层中土壤容重均值最大的是侧柏林,为1.53g/cm3,最小的是灌丛,为1.48g/cm3。土壤总孔隙度最大的是侧柏林,为43.69%,最小的是毛白杨林,为40.40%。土壤的毛管孔隙度均值表现为侧柏林(32.45%)灌丛(30.36%)毛白杨林(29.72%)杂木林(28.19%)。侧柏林土壤的最大持水量最大,为570.01t/hm2,毛白杨林最小,为527.58t/hm2。分析4种林分林下枯落物和林地土壤的持水能力,得出侧柏林(583.01t/hm2)灌丛(567.12t/hm2)杂木林(557.17t/hm2)毛白杨林(542.94t/hm2)。综合4种林分枯落物层和土壤层的持水特性,得知侧柏林的持水能力最大。     

栓皮栎林分枯落物对土壤-植物系统水分运动的影响

[目的]分析枯落物层对森林生态系统水分循环的作用。[方法]利用稳定同位素技术,测定了在旱季和雨季栓皮栎木质部水分以及枯落物层和不同土壤层水分的同位素特征。通过对比不同环境条件下(干旱期和降雨前后)枯落物层和土壤水分同位素组成的变化,并根据其与植物茎水分同位素特征的差异判断栓皮栎不同季节的水分利用来源。[结果]在旱季,随着干旱期的进行,对于平均枯落物层厚度,表层0—30cm土壤水分同位素特征由于蒸发分馏的影响逐渐变得富集,而对于因为特殊地形而造成的未分解枯落物层较厚的地方,则土壤水分同位素特征随着干旱期的进行几乎不发生变化;栓皮栎的水分来源主要集中在表层,随着干旱期的延长没有发生变化;在雨季,极端降雨后,土壤同位素特征表明枯落物截留降雨的效应明显,被枯落物截留的雨水以活塞流的形式继续向土壤入渗,栓皮栎的水分来源主要来自于表层0—10cm枯落物层(分解层)的土壤;土壤剖面水分同位素特征呈现的梯度变化与土壤层的结构有关。[结论]枯落物层的厚度,特别是未分解层,对土壤水分的同位素特征影响有差异;枯落物层的水文效应也间接改变了植物的水分利用。     

太行山低山区枯落物分解及主要营养元素变化

应用分解袋法研究了太行山低山区枯落物的分解及主要营养元素的动态变化。结果表明,不同植被类型的枯落物分解损失率差异明显,表现为:刺槐林薄皮木灌草荆条灌草草丛;损失率变化趋势与温度和降雨量变化一致。分解过程中,K,Mn,N元素发生净释放;Na元素有净积累;Ca元素先释放后积累;Zn,P与Ca恰好相反,元素先积累后释放。分解1a后,枯落物各元素总体释放率的大小顺序为:KNMgPMnZnNaCa。太行山各种植被枯落物分解1a来元素归还量都以K量最高,Ca量为负值,各元素总归还量大小依次为:KPMgMnNZnNaCa。太行山22a土壤养分变化,与枯落物归还量大体吻合。     

Differential responses of litter decomposition to nutrient addition and soil water availability with long-term vegetation recovery

The litter decomposition, nutrient patterns, as well as nutrient release and soil nutrient contents were determined in response to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) addition and drought treatments following long-term vegetation recovery. The litter decomposition rate decreased with vegetation recovery, due to changes in litter quality, soil nutrient availability, and soil enzyme activity. Nitrogen addition promoted litter decomposition in the early recovery stages but inhibited decomposition in the later stages, indicating a shift in the nutrient limitations to litter decomposition with succession. Neither N nor P addition had any effect on the release of litter carbon (C), whereas N addition inhibited litter N release. In addition, drought decreased litter decomposition and nutrient release during the vegetation recovery process. Our findings suggest that litter quality, soil nutrient availability, and moisture at different vegetation recovery stages should be considered when modeling the C cycle and nutrient dynamics in these ecosystems.     

森林凋落物分解研究进展

 森林凋落物分解是森林生态系统养分生物循环的重要环节,而分解过程中所释放的CO2是全球碳素收支的重要组分,开展森林凋落物分解研究是充分认识森林生态系统结构和功能的基础。研究认为:凋落物分解的预测指标可分为3类,即环境指标(如实际蒸散量)、凋落物物理质量(如叶抗张强度)和化学质量指标(如C/N比、木质素/N比和C/P比等);凋落物分解过程中养分释放机制极其复杂,养分动态模式主要有淋溶—释放、淋溶—富集—释放和富集—释放3种,并因凋落物种类、分解阶段和元素本身性质的不同而异;凋落物混合分解并非单一树种分解的简单叠加,因树种组成和比例不同,基质的化学组成会发生变化,从而影响分解者的多样性、丰富度和生理活性,进而直接和间接地影响其分解速率;凋落物混合分解中可能存在无效应、促进效应和抑制效应;现有的研究结果显示,凋落物混合分解的适宜比例应与群落中不同树种的种群比例相一致;CO2浓度升高不仅影响凋落物的化学性质,而且与分解环境中土壤的生物活性密切相关,但CO2浓度升高并不改变凋落物质量与分解速率之间的关系;越来越多的研究显示,CO2浓度升高的环境下,植物群落的物种组成会产生变化,这种变化对养分循环速率的影响远大于单纯大气CO2浓度变化的影响。     

Warming effects on the early decomposition of three litter types,Eastern Tibetan Plateau,China

Temperature and litter quality are two of the key factors controlling litter decomposition. Predicted global warming and vegetation succession will therefore have profound impacts. This study was conducted to assess effects of experimental warming on litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics of two contrasting tree species (red birch, Betula albosinensis Burk., and dragon spruce, Picea asperata Mast.) and a mixture of the two with the heating cable method in the eastern Tibetan Plateau of China. This treatment raised surface soil temperature by 3.2°C and resulted in a 5.2% decline in soil moisture 10 cm below the soil surface. The water content of dragon spruce, red birch and mixed litter was decreased by 18, 11 and 13%, respectively. Marked differences between the two species in the decomposition rates and nutrient remaining percentages were detected. Moreover, we found positive, non‐additive effects of litter mixture. Experimental warming did not affect mass loss and nutrient release of dragon spruce litter but significantly increased mass loss and affected nutrient release of red birch and mixed litter during the early decomposition period. Overall, inter‐specific (red birch and dragon spruce) differences in decomposability were substantially larger than warming‐induced responses. Thus, a warming‐induced community succession towards dragon spruce forests in the Tibetan Plateau region could have a greater impact on early litter decomposition than warming itself.     

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

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.     

Litter, warming and plants affect respiration and allocation of soil microbial and plant C, N and P in arctic mesocosms

In a mesocosm experiment, we studied decomposition rates as CO₂ efflux and changes in plant mass, nutrient accumulation and soil pools of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), in soils from a sub-arctic heath. The soil was incubated at 10 °C and 12 °C, with or without leaf litter and with or without plants present. The purpose of the experiment was to analyse decomposition and nutrient transformations under simulated, realistic conditions in a future warmer Arctic.Both temperature enhancement and litter addition increased respiration rates. Temperature enhancement and surprisingly also litter addition decreased microbial biomass carbon (C) content, resulting in a pronounced increase of specific respiration. Microbial P content increased progressively with temperature enhancement and litter addition, concomitant with increasing P mineralisation, whereas microbial N increased only in the litter treatment, at the same time as net N mineralisation decreased. In contrast, microbial biomass N decreased as temperature increased, resulting in a high mobilisation of inorganic N.Plant responses were closely coupled to the balance of microbial mineralisation and immobilisation. Plant growth and N accumulation was low after litter addition because of high N immobilisation in microbes and low net mineralisation, resulting in plant N limitation. Growth increased in the temperature-enhanced treatments, but was eventually limited by low supply of P, reflected in a low plant P concentration and high N-to-P ratio. Hence, the different microbial responses caused plant N limitation after litter addition and P limitation after temperature enhancement. Although microbial processes determined the main responses in plants, the plants themselves influenced nutrient turnover. With plants present, P mobilisation to the plant plus soil inorganic pools increased significantly, and N mobilisation non-significantly, when litter was added. This was presumably due to increased mineralisation in the rhizosphere, or because the nutrients in addition to being immobilised by microbes also could be absorbed by plants. This suggests that the common method of measuring nutrient mineralisation in soils incubated without plants may underestimate the rates of nutrient mobilisation, which probably contributes to a commonly observed discrepancy of measured lower rates of net nutrient mineralisation than uptake rates in arctic soils.     

Water-soluble organic materials in paddy soil ecosystem

Abstract

A column experiment was conducted to analyse the composition of organic materials in the leachate from the plow layer and their fate in the subsoil. Water-soluble organic materials in the leachate were fractionated by insoluble polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and ion exchange resins. The content of total organic carbon (TOC) in the leachate increased by the addition of rice straw (RS) to the plow layer soil sample. The leachate contained a constant amount of PVP-adsorbed Fraction, while that of the PVP-non-adsorbed Fraction changed during the 45 day incubation period. In the fractionation using ion exchange resins, the fraction adsorbed onto the anion exchange resin was the major one.

By the connection of a subsoil column to the plow layer soil column with RS, the TOC content in the leachate decreased by percolation into the subsoil sample. In the Anjo soil sample (Yellow Soil), the decrease occurred throughout the incubation period, and about 90% of the PVP-adsorbed Fraction in the leachate decreased by percolation into the subsoil sample. In the Fukushima soil sample (Gray Lowland Soil), the TOC content decreased in the early and middle periods of incubation, while in the late period the decrease was negligible. This decrease of the TOC content by percolation into the subsoil sample was mainly due to retention in the subsoil sample of the Anjo soil, while in the Fukushima soil sample it was due to decomposition and retention. It was considered that easily decomposable organic materials like organic acids were decomposed in the early to middle periods of incubation, while in the late period the contents of such substances in the leachate from the plow layer soil sample with RS were small and the decrease of TOC was negligible.     

西双版纳热带雨林次生林的生物养分循环

本文获得了西双版纳热带雨林，砍伐后２块处于恢复演替阶段不同年代的次生林的生物量、生长量、年凋浇物量及它们的主要营养元素含量、对土壤养分状况的影响、以及土壤微生物状况和土壤生化活性等一系列资料。阐明了次生林生物物质和养分吸收、积累和归还的特点及对土壤养发状况的影响，研究了土壤微生物对凋落物的分解作用，从而对热带雨林次生林的生物养分循环作了一初步的探讨，为热带森林生态系统研究奠定了基础。研究表明：１．     

荒漠草原区土壤动物分解作用对土壤C、N、P、K含量分布的影响

选择半干旱(宁夏盐池)、干旱(内蒙古乌拉特后旗)荒漠草原区为研究样地,以牛枝子枯落物为研究对象,采用网孔分解袋法研究土壤动物分解功能对枯落物C、N、P、K分布的影响,结合枯落物分解过程中土壤有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)、全钾(TK)含量分布特征,阐明土壤动物分解作用对土壤营养元素含量分布的影响规律。结果表明：(1)共捕获土壤动物226只,隶属14科(属)。土壤动物个体数表现为盐池地区均高于乌拉特地区,而类群数差异较小,仅在乌拉特地区灌丛高于裸地。土壤动物Simpson指数、Shannon指数和Margalef指数在不同生境下均无显著差异,Pielou指数在裸地生境下表现为乌拉特地区显著高于盐池地区。(2)不同网孔分解袋中枯落物养分元素均处于不同程度的释放状态。其中枯落物C、N元素累积系数在盐池地区表现为2 mm网孔显著低于0.01 mm网孔,在乌拉特地区表现为2 mm网孔显著高于0.01 mm网孔;枯落物P、K元素累积系数分别在乌拉特地区和盐池地区表现为2 mm网孔显著高于0.01 mm网孔,且土壤动物对盐池枯落物C、N、P、K元素释放均表现为正效应;对乌拉特枯落物C、...     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduce decomposition of woody plant litter while increasing soil aggregation

The decomposition of plant organic matter and the stability of soil aggregates are important components of soil carbon cycling, and the relationship between decomposition rate and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has recently received considerable attention. The interaction of AMF with their associated microorganisms and the consequences for litter decomposition and soil aggregation still remain fairly unclear. In a laboratory pot experiment we simultaneously tested the single and combined effects of one AMF species (Rhizophagus irregularis) and a natural non-AMF microbial community on the decomposition of small wooden sticks and on soil aggregation. To disentangle effects of hyphae and roots we placed mesh bags as root exclusion compartments in the soil. The decomposition of the wooden sticks in this compartment was significantly reduced in the presence of AMF, but not with the non-AMF microbial community only, compared to the control, while aggregation was increased in all treatments compared to the control. We suggest that AMF directly (via localized nutrient removal or altered moisture conditions) or indirectly (by providing an alternative carbon source) inhibited the activity of decomposers, leading to different levels of plant litter degradation under our experimental settings. Reduced decomposition of woody litter in presence of AMF can be important for nutrient cycling in AMF-dominated forests and in the case of woody plants and perennials that develop lignified roots in grasslands.     

Contrasting decomposition rates and nutrient release patterns in mixed vs singular species litter in agroforestry systems

Purpose

The rate of litter decomposition can be affected by a suite of factors, including the diversity of litter type in the environment. The effect of mixing different litter types on decomposition rates is increasingly being studied but is still poorly understood. We investigated the effect of mixing either litter material with high nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations or those with low N and P concentrations on litter decomposition and nutrient release in the context of agroforestry systems.

Materials and methods

Poplar leaf litter, wheat straw, peanut leaf, peanut straw, and mixtures of poplar leaf litter-wheat straw, poplar leaf litter-peanut leaf, and poplar leaf litter-peanut straw litter samples were placed in litter bags, and their rates of decomposition and changes in nutrient concentrations were studied for 12 months in poplar-based agroforestry systems at two sites with contrasting soil textures (clay loam vs silt loam).

Results and discussion

Mixing of different litter types increased the decomposition rate of litter, more so for the site with a clay loam soil texture, representing site differences, and in mixtures that included litter with high N and P concentrations (i.e., peanut leaf). The decomposition rate was highest in the peanut leaf that had the highest N and P concentrations among the tested litter materials. Initial N and P immobilization may have occurred in litter of high carbon (C) to N or C to P ratios, with net mineralization occurring in the later stage of the decomposition process. For litter materials with a low C to N or P ratios, net mineralization and nutrient release may occur quickly over the course of the litter decomposition.

Conclusions

Non-additive effects were clearly demonstrated for decomposition rates and nutrient release when different types of litter were mixed, and such effects were moderated by site differences. The implications from this study are that it may be possible to manage plant species composition to affect litter decomposition and nutrient biogeochemistry; mixed species agroforestry systems can be used to enhance nutrient cycling, soil fertility, and site productivity in land-use systems.