两种森林凋落物分解及其土壤效应的研究

本文对田林老山杉木林和常绿落叶阔叶混交林凋落物的分解状况、微生物数量及凋落物分解的土壤效应进行了初步研究。结果表明:经287d 杉木林和常绿落叶阔叶混交林凋落物的失重率地表样分别为23.8%和24.9%,埋置样分别为35.8%和37.2%;C:N 缩小地表样分别为41.0和32.4,埋置样分别为22.4和20.0。凋落物腐解过程中微生物数量明显上升,但冬季显著下降。凋落物腐解刺激相应土层土壤微生物增长,有机质含量和腐殖质 C,N 含量亦有提高。     

不同人工林凋落叶混合分解速率及其C,N释放动态

对岷江上游连香树、糙皮桦、云南松和云杉4种主要人工林凋落叶进行了凋落叶混合分解试验,探讨了凋落叶混合分解过程中的残留率以及分解过程中C,N含量和C,N释放率的动态变化,为试验区最佳混交树种的选择提供理论指导.结果表明,不同凋落叶分解速率存在显著差异.糙皮桦与云杉,糙皮桦与云南松,连香树与云南松凋落叶混合后对分解过程具有明显的促进作用,连香树与云杉凋落叶的混合对分解的促进作用不明显.放置于阔叶林地的针阔混合凋落叶分解速率较之放置于针叶林地快,且针阔混交有益于凋落叶的分解.在分解过程中凋落叶C含量呈减小趋势,但其释放率反之;N含量在分解过程中,连香树、云杉、云南松凋落叶表现为增加(富集)减小(释放)趋势,糙皮桦表现为减小—增大—减小的变化趋势.针阔林地凋落叶混合后促进了针叶林地凋落叶C和N的释放.     

茂兰喀斯特森林自然保护区凋落叶分解动态

[目的]研究喀斯特森林生态系统凋落叶分解特征,为喀斯特森林区石漠化防治及水土保持提供科学依据。[方法]采用1 mm网孔孔径分解袋,对茂兰喀斯特森林自然保护区不同树种凋落叶(落叶和常绿叶)在不同坡位的分解状况进行为期18个月的观测研究。研究茂兰喀斯特森林自然保护区凋落叶失重率和干重残留率动态变化、分解速率及养分释放特征。[结果]凋落叶分解过程呈现"快—慢—快"的周期变化,春夏季分解速度快于秋冬季,落叶树种凋落叶分解速度快于常绿树种凋落叶,不同坡位凋落叶的分解速度表现为:下坡中坡上坡。利用Olson模型对凋落叶分解50%和95%所需时间进行估测,发现落叶树种凋落叶分解50%和95%所需时间分别为0.95～1.66 a和4.13～7.19 a,常绿树种凋落叶分解50%和95%所需时间分别为1.14～1.69 a和4.92～7.30 a,二者无显著性差异。凋落叶分解速率低于中亚热带东部常绿阔叶林和常绿落叶阔叶混交林,但比同区域喀斯特次生林与人工林高。落叶树种凋落叶和常绿树种凋落叶的N元素释放模式为富集—释放模式,C含量随分解时间的波动差异显著,总体在不断减少,而C/N比呈逐步下降的趋势。[结论]由于不同树种凋落叶初始养分含量和叶片理化结构的差异,落叶比常绿叶具有更快的分解速率和养分释放速率,对促进喀斯特森林生态系统物质循环起着积极作用。     

煤矿复垦区不同有机物料的分解特征

  【目的】  研究不同有机物料在矿区复垦土壤中的分解速率及养分释放特征，为合理利用有机资源培肥矿区复垦土壤提供科学依据。  【方法】  在山西黄土丘陵区矿区复垦长期试验点进行大田填埋分解试验。采用尼龙网袋法，将供试的4种有机物料小麦秸秆、玉米秸秆、牛粪和猪粪烘干后过2 mm筛，均按等有机碳量 (8 g) 称取后装入尼龙网袋埋入试验地15 cm深。在填埋后的第12、23、55、218、280、365天采样，分析4种有机物料的干物质残留量和氮、磷、钾及半纤维素、纤维素、木质素含量，计算C/N值和木质素(Lignin)/N值。  【结果】  秸秆和粪肥在矿区复垦土壤中的分解速率均在第12天达到最大，然后迅速下降，分解第365天时，小麦秸秆、玉米秸秆、牛粪和猪粪的质量残留率依次为49.8%、55.1%、79.2%和54.0%，有机碳残留率依次为48.8%、53.4%、63.9%和51.8%。供试有机物料的养分释放率存在差异，在最初分解的第23天，玉米秸秆的氮、磷养分出现了明显富集，氮、磷养分残留率分别达到了131.0%和152.7%，小麦秸秆、牛粪和猪粪的氮素残留率依次为93.0%、81.3%和67.8%，磷素的残留率依次为92.5%、98.8%和84.3%，分解第365天时，小麦秸秆中养分释放速率大小表现为钾 > 磷 > 氮，其他3个物料中养分释放速率大小均表现为钾 > 氮 > 磷。从整个分解过程来看，玉米秸秆中氮素和磷素在矿区复垦土壤中表现出先富集再释放的模式，其他3个物料中氮素和磷素均表现为直接释放模式。采用地积温方程能较好地拟合有机物料的分解过程，由方程可知，秸秆和粪肥的分解速率常数 (K) 大小顺序为猪粪 > 小麦秸秆 > 玉米秸秆 > 牛粪。有机物料的分解速率与养分和木质素等成分的含量相关，全磷、半纤维素含量越高分解越快，木质素含量、C/N和Lignin/N越高分解越慢。  【结论】  秸秆和粪肥在山西矿区复垦土壤中的分解速率在填埋后第12天达到最大值，之后分解速率减缓。与秸秆相比，粪肥的有机碳残留率较高，氮、磷养分释放快，其中以牛粪的分解速率最慢，有机碳残留率最高，因此，牛粪可作为矿区复垦土壤培肥的首选有机物料。     

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。     

不同生境条件下西藏原始冷杉林凋落物分解特征与土壤养分的关系

[目的]研究不同生境条件下(林内、林外、林缘)藏东南急尖长苞冷杉林(Abies georgei var.smithii)凋落物分解特征与土壤养分特征之间的关系,为深入了解高寒高山森林生态系统物质循环过程提供依据。[方法]采用野外分解袋法和室内分析相结合,在林内、林外、林缘3种不同生境条件下对藏东南急尖长苞冷杉林凋落物进行了原位分解试验。[结果]分解速率总体上呈现出:林内林缘林外的特点,逐月分解率的变异系数表现为:林内(34.83%)林缘(57.35%)林外(72.09%);Olson指数衰减模型的模拟结果显示不同生境条件下(林内、林缘、林外)凋落物分解50%需要的时间为2.11,2.52,2.34 a,分解95%需要的时间为8.96,10.01,10.84 a;3种不同生境土壤养分在空间上差异显著,林内生境中与凋落物分解速率呈现极显著相关的土壤养分因子有土壤总有机碳(TOC)含量、N含量、土壤微生物量碳(SMBC)含量、土壤微生物量氮(SMBN)含量以及W_C∶W_N值;林外、林缘生境中与凋落物分解速率相关性最大的为土壤TOC含量,其次为W_C∶W_N值。[结论]生境条件的差异对凋落物分解速率有显著影响,在不同的生境条件下对凋落物分解影响起主导作用的土壤养分因素不同,凋落物—土壤生物地化循环紧密联系,相互作用关系复杂,生境作用效应突出。     

氮添加对滇中高原森林凋落物养分残留及其持水性的影响

为揭示森林生态系统养分循环和水分循环对氮沉降的响应机制,以滇中高原华山松(Pinus armandii)和云南松(Pinus yunnanensis)为研究对象,开展野外氮添加下凋落叶、枝原位分解研究试验,设置对照、低氮、中氮和高氮共4个处理,利用尼龙网袋法和室内浸泡法,探究凋落叶、枝养分元素残留率、持水量和持水率及吸水速率对氮添加的响应。结果表明:(1)随着分解时间的持续,2种林分凋落叶、枝碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)分别呈释放、富集—释放、富集过程,凋落叶C、N、P残留率显著小于凋落枝(p＜0.05);(2)凋落叶最大持水量和最大吸水速率显著大于凋落枝(p＜0.05),分解24个月时,与CK相比,LN处理下2种林分凋落叶、枝C,华山松凋落叶N残留率降低1.98%~7.27%,10.79%,HN处理下2种林分凋落叶、枝C,华山松凋落叶、枝和云南松凋落枝N,华山松凋落枝P残留率则增加4.26%~9.08%,11.94%~44.51%,42.42%;(3)分解24个月时,与CK相比,LN、MN和HN处理华山松凋落叶、枝和云南松凋落叶最大持水量和最大吸水速率分别降低11.44%~25.24%,5.81%~32.23%,云南松凋落枝则增加15.48%~24.26%,17.97%~23.74%。 (4)2种林分凋落叶、枝持水量随浸泡时间延长而增加,而吸水速率则为降低,持水量与浸泡时间的关系均呈对数函数关系(m=a+bln t),吸水速率与浸泡时间的关系呈幂函数关系(v=at^-b)。(5)C与云南松凋落枝持水性呈正相关关系(p＜0.05),N与华山松凋落枝、P与华山松和云南松凋落叶持水性呈负相关关系(p＜0.05)。综上,氮添加通过改变凋落物分解过程中C、N、P养分元素残留特征进而影响其持水性。     

黄土高原天然草地3种优势物种细根分解及养分释放对模拟氮沉降的响应

细根分解是草地土壤有机质和养分的主要来源,全球N沉降背景下细根分解动态变化对生态系统碳和养分循环具有重要意义。采用埋袋法研究黄土高原天然草地3个优势物种细根分解速率和养分释放规律及其对模拟N沉降(10g·N/(m2·a))的响应。结果表明:细根分解过程分为快速(0~60d)和慢速分解(60~719d)2个阶段。大针茅、甘青针茅和白莲蒿细根分解60d的质量残留率分别为86.3%,86.2%,90.7%,分解719d的质量残留率分别为58.1%,64.7%,70.5%,表明细根分解速率大小为大针茅甘青针茅白莲蒿。相关分析表明,细根分解常数与细根初始N含量、N/P值呈显著的正相关关系,与初始C含量、C/N值呈显著的负相关关系。随着根系分解,3种细根C元素表现为直接释放,N元素表现为N富集,P元素表现为富集-释放模式,整体呈波动式下降。模拟N沉降显著抑制了3种植物细根的分解,使大针茅、甘青针茅和白莲蒿细根分解系数分别显著降低了21.3%,26.8%,47.4%。模拟N沉降使大针茅、甘青针茅和白莲蒿分解末期C元素分别增加了26.8%,20.7%,16.6%,N元素分别增加了18.2%,17.0%,13.4%,而对P残留率均没有显著影响。综上,未来氮沉降的增加会抑制黄土高原封育草地优势物种的细根分解速率,减慢其细根分解向土壤输入C和N养分的过程。     

黄河三角洲不同人工刺槐混交林凋落物分解特性

为研究黄河三角洲不同人工刺槐混交林凋落物分解特性,选取白蜡刺槐混交林、臭椿刺槐混交林、国槐刺槐混交林、榆树刺槐混交林4种混交林,采用凋落物袋法进行为期1年8月的凋落物分解特性研究。结果表明:4种混交林凋落物分解速率变化规律相似,前期分解较快,后期分解较慢。4种混交林凋落物分解系数介于0.55~0.74,其中臭椿刺槐混交林凋落物分解系数最高,榆树刺槐混交林最低;臭椿刺槐混交林凋落物分解周期最短为4.03a,榆树刺槐混交林最长为5.47a。4种混交林凋落物中N、P、K、木质素含量以及木质素/N差异显著(P0.05),凋落物分解速率与其N、P含量呈显著正相关关系,与K含量以及C/N呈显著负相关关系。混交林土壤pH、含水量与凋落物分解系数呈显著正相关关系;电导率、碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾含量与凋落物分解系数呈显著负相关关系,表明土壤pH、含水量升高有利于凋落物分解,而电导率、碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾含量升高则减缓凋落物分解。     

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。     

我国北方半干旱地区土壤的沙漠化演变过程与机制

土地沙漠化是我国北方干旱半干旱地区土地退化最严重的类型之一。但迄今为止,人们对这一地区土地沙漠化过程中土壤沙化过程和机制的了解还不够透彻。2002-2003年,我们在科尔沁沙地选择具有明显沙漠化梯度的一个区域,调查和研究了土壤沙漠化演变过程和机制。结果表明,在科尔沁沙地,不同粒径土壤颗粒的理化特性具有较大差异,其中土壤粘粉粒和粗沙相比,具有较低的土壤容重和较高的土壤结持力、起沙风速、毛管持水力和养分含量。从土壤粘粉粒到粗沙,容重增加了10.32%,结持力、毛管持水量、有机碳、全氮分别下降了99.15%,51.23%,83.73%和80.24%。沙漠化过程中,土壤的理化性质随着土地沙漠化程度的增强而明显恶化。和非沙漠化土地相比,严重沙漠化土地的土壤粗沙含量、非毛管孔隙度和容重分别增加了35.04%,117.50%和21.7%,细沙含量、粘粉粒含量、总孔隙度、毛管孔隙度、田间持水量、毛管持水量、土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、有效氮和有效磷分别下降了77.78%,70.00%,15.38%,27.49%,54.34%,37.54%,64.15%,70.77%,65.90%,66.32%和50.59%。相关分析结果表明,沙漠化过程中,土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、土壤含水量和土壤结持力的变化与土壤粘粉粒的减少呈明显正相关,与土壤粗沙含量的增加呈明显负相关。这说明,沙漠化过程中,由于风蚀而导致的富含养分和具有较高持水能力的土壤细颗粒的损失,是沙漠化过程中土壤退化的主要机制。     

川西3种亚高山针叶林的养分和凋落物格局分析

Investigations were conducted to quantify litterfall, and litter and nutrient accumulation in forest floor, and to acquire information on litter decomposition and nitrogen and phosphorus release patterns in three different subalpine coniferous forests, a plantation （P1）, a secondary forest （SF）, and a primitive forest （PF）, in western Sichuan, China. The litter trap method was used to evaluate litterfall with the litterbag method being utilized for litter decomposition. Seasonal patterns of litterfall were similar in the three forests, with two peaks occurring in September-November and March-May. The plantation revealed an annual litterfall of 4.38 x 103 kg ha-1, which was similar to those of SF and PF, but P1 had a lower mass loss rate and a higher C/N ratio. The C/N ratio may be a sound predictor for the decomposition differences. N concentrations of leaf litter in both the secondary forest and primitive forest increased first and then decreased, and the percentages of their final/initial values were 108.9% and 99.9%, respectively. P concentration in the three forests increased by the end of the study. The results of litterfall and decomposition indicated that in the plantation the potential to provide nutrients for soil organic matter was similar to those of SF and PF; however, its slower decomposition rate could result in a somewhat transient accumulation of litter in the forest floor.     

橡胶凋落叶覆盖对胶园土壤部分理化性质的影响

通过田间原位试验,研究橡胶凋落叶覆盖对平地和坡地胶园表层土壤理化性质的影响。试验设置平地凋落叶覆盖、平地凋落叶去除、坡地凋落叶覆盖和坡地凋落叶去除4个处理。结果表明:(1)平地胶园表层土壤含水率大于坡地,凋落叶覆盖较凋落叶去除的坡地土壤含水率显著增加;(2)表层土壤含水率与降雨量呈线性正相关关系,方程斜率表现为坡地大于平地;(3)平地和坡地凋落叶覆盖较其凋落叶去除的土壤pH分别提高了0.09~0.74和-0.09~0.47个单位;(4)与凋落叶去除相比,凋落叶覆盖的有机碳、全氮和碳氮比均有所增加,平地增幅分别为6.9%~68.5%,3.0%~44.8%,3.9%~16.2%,坡地增幅分别为23.3%~95.0%,3.5%~52.5%,7.6%~27.9%,坡地增幅大于平地;(5)与凋落叶去除相比,凋落叶覆盖显著提高平地土壤有效磷含量,增幅为6.2%~48.1%,显著提高平地和坡地速效钾含量,增幅分别为16.4%~83.3%和12.8%~94.8%。综上所述,橡胶凋落叶覆盖可以缓解胶园pH酸化,增加土壤保水能力,改善土壤养分状况。     

Effects of desertification on soil organic C and N content in sandy farmland and grassland of Inner Mongolia

Desertification is one of the most serious types of land degradation. A field experiment was conducted during 2002 and 2003 in Horqin Sand Land, China to investigate changes in soil C and N contents in relation to land desertification. Four primary results were derived from this work. First, land desertification characterized by wind erosion resulted in a significant decrease in soil fine particles (clay + silt) with a corresponding increase in sand content. In comparison to non-desertified land, soil fine particle content decreased by up to 89.2%, and sand content increased by up to 47.2%, in the severely desertified land. Second, the organic C and total N in soil were mainly associated with the soil fine particles, and decreased significantly with desertification development. Organic C decreased by 29.2% and total N by 31.5% in the severely desertified land compared to the non-desertified land. Third, the decrease in organic C and N content was greater in desertified grassland than in desertified farmland. Fourth, the changes in organic C and total N content had a significant positive correlation with the soil fine particle content (P < 0.01) and a significant negative correlation with coarse sand content (P < 0.01), indicating that land desertification by wind erosion is mediated through a loss of soil fine particles, with a resultant decrease in soil organic C and total N.     

Decomposition and nitrogen dynamics of litter in peat soils from two climatic regions under different temperature regimes

Soil temperature is a major factor affecting organic matter decomposition and thus, global warming may accelerate decomposition processes. However, it remains unclear whether the effects will be similar in climatically different regions. The effects of soil temperatures of 5, 10 and 15 °C on the decomposition of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) needles were assessed in a 1-year (360 days) growth chamber experiment. Intact peat cores from two climatically different peatland sites (southern and northern Finland) were used as the incubation environments. Needles were incubated in litter bags beneath the living moss layer, and mass loss and nitrogen (N) concentration were determined at 60-day intervals. The rate of mass loss from the needles over time was clearly lower in the 5 °C treatment than at the higher temperatures. Mass loss was strongly related to the accumulated soil temperature sum. In temperatures higher than 5 °C, mass losses were higher in the northern peat. Also, the limit value of decomposition (asymptotic maximum mass loss) was slightly higher in the northern peat (92%), than in the southern peat (87%). The N concentration increased up to a mass loss of 50–60%, whereupon it decreased, while the amount of N (as a percentage of the original amount) remained unchanged until a mass loss of 50–60%, whereupon it decreased linearly. It seems that increasing soil temperatures may result in slightly higher rates of needle litter mass loss and consequent N release in northern peat than in southern peat. The faster decomposition in higher temperatures in the northern peat, together with the slightly higher maximum mass loss value, imply that with climatic warming, susceptibility of boreal peatlands for becoming sources of carbon to the atmosphere may increase towards north.     

不同氮源对三倍体毛白杨落叶分解的影响

为探索加快毛白杨落叶分解的途径, 采取室内培养的方法研究了添加铵态氮、硝态氮及混合氮对三倍体毛白杨落叶分解速度和主要营养元素释放的影响。结果表明, 添加氮源对三倍体毛白杨落叶分解有一定的促进作用, 不同氮源之间差异显著。140 d后, 施加铵态氮、混合氮和硝态氮的落叶分解率分别为46.0%、30.0%和28.8%, 而对照为27.4%, 处理间差异显著; Olson指数方程拟合结果表明,施加铵态氮、混合氮和硝态氮后落叶分解50%和95%所需时间分别为175 d、316 d、301 d和781 d、1 238 d、1 627 d,比对照分别缩短49.7%、9.2%、13.5%和52.0%、23.9%、14.1%。同时, 添加氮源后对落叶中N、P、K元素的释放影响有所不同, 其中对K元素的释放基本没有产生影响, 随着分解的进行, 不同处理落叶中K元素浓度逐渐降低。但添加氮源对N、P元素的释放产生了显著影响, 与对照相比, 添加氮源缩短了N、P释放的富集时间, 降低了富集的幅度;N、P的富集时间均从对照的21 d缩短到处理的7 d; N的富集幅度从对照为初始浓度的1.94倍降低到处理为初始浓度的1.32~1.56倍, P的富集幅度从对照为初始浓度的2.98倍降低到处理为初始浓度的1.70~2.26倍。因此添加氮源加快了落叶的分解速度,促进了落叶中N、P的释放, 有利于加快养分循环, 提高立地生产力。     

Microbial succession in litter decomposition in the semi-arid Chaco woodland

Microbial succession associated with litter decomposition was studied in the semi-arid western Chaco woodland of Cordoba province, Argentina. Annual rainfall in the area averages 450 mm, concentrated during the summer (October-March). We placed 200 g of freshly shed litter in metallic cages covered with 1 mm mesh divided in four equal size sectors, for 1 year. Cages were sampled at 3-month intervals from the starting date. On each sampling date, we collected the content of one sector from each cage for analysis. Microbial functional groups (ammonifiers, nitrifiers, N-fixing, cellulolytic, and sugar fungi) and litter chemical composition (carbon, nitrogen, insoluble fibre, and phenol concentration) were analysed in the initial litter and litter samples collected at the end of each sampling period. Litter mass remained constant during the dry season (winter and spring), decreasing abruptly in the wet season (summer and autumn). Nitrogen content increased significantly until summer (from 1.52 to 2.18%), whereas phenols and C/N ratio decreased (from 2.48 to 0.67 and from 40 to 20%, respectively). Sugar fungi and ammonifiers increased rapidly since the initial stages and remained stable throughout the year (from log 5.0 to log 6.2 and from log 5.4 to log 20.0, respectively). Cellulolytic bacteria and fungi as well as nitrifiers decreased markedly during winter and spring, peaking in summer. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria increased during the study period (from log 1.6 to log 4.8), showing a significant correlation with ammonifiers, C/N ratio, and N content (r²=0.801, 0.573 and 0.513, respectively). Our results show that microbial successions in litter decomposition are strongly influenced by synergic interaction among functional groups and litter chemical composition. Moreover, they also suggest that biological nitrogen fixation may have an important role in improving the C/N ratio, and therefore favours a higher decomposition rate.