Microbial activity and leaching during initial oak leaf litter decomposition

The decomposition of oak leaf litter was studied by means of a litterbag experiment in an oak forest in the Netherlands. The contribution of microbial activity and leaching to weight loss and element dynamics during the first 6 weeks of decomposition was investigated by means of frequent respiration measurements and extractions of the litter and by a qualitative comparison of throughfall and litter percolation water chemistry. The oak-leaf litter lost 9.3% of its initial dry weight during the first 6 weeks. In total, 90% of this observed weight loss was explained by the processes studied. About 5.9% (64% of the total) of this weight loss was attributed to microbial tespiration and 0.5% (5%) to the loss of inorganic solutes. Leaching of dissolved organic compounds was estimated to account for 2.0% (21%). The results indicated a fast leaching of K and Cl out of the fresh litter during the first 2 weeks, while Mg, Fe, Mn, Si, ortho P, and dissolved organic N were released at a much lower rate. At the same time, small amounts of H⁺, NH _inf4 ^sup+ and NO _inf3 ^sup- were retained in the litter.     

Evidence that straw does not increase the mobilization of N from decomposing salal (Gaultheria shallon Pursh.) leaf litter

We tested whether straw could induce higher N release from decomposing salal leaf litter, which ostensibly interferes with mineralization of N. We mixed forest floor material from two forest types with ¹⁵N-enriched salal leaf litter, and incubated the mixtures 3 years with and without straw amendments. The amounts of N, as well as the relative amounts of ¹⁵N, extracted in five fractions were, respectively, 29-93 and 25-82% lower in straw-amended forest floor. Results suggest that straw diverted microbial decomposition activity away from the more recalcitrant litter fractions. Previous reports of higher mineral-N availability in straw-amended forest floors are best explained by a fertilizer effect of straw as opposed to a ‘priming effect’.     

山东省石灰岩山区灌木林枯落物持水性能的研究

通过对山东省石灰岩山区4种主要灌木林枯落物蓄积量及其持水特性的试验研究,总结出不同林分枯落物的持水性能。结果表明,4种林分枯落物的蓄积量从大到小依次为连翘林>黄栌林>黄荆林>绣线菊林。在前0.5h内,4种林分枯落物吸水速率的大小顺序为绣线菊林>黄栌林>黄荆林>连翘林。4种林分枯落物最大持水量的大小顺序为黄栌林>连翘林>绣线菊林>黄荆林。4种林分枯落物有效拦蓄量的大小顺序为黄栌林>连翘林>绣线菊林>黄荆林。     

Do plant species encourage soil biota that specialise in the rapid decomposition of their litter?

Plants are often nutrient limited and soil organisms are important in mediating nutrient availability to plants. Thus, there may be a selective advantage to plants that alter the soil community in ways that enhance the decomposition of their litter and, hence, their ability to access nutrients. We incubated litter from three tree species (Fagus sylvatica, Acer pseudoplatanus and Picea sitchensis) in the presence of biota extracted from soil beneath a stand of each species to test the hypothesis that litter decomposes fastest in the presence of biota derived from soil where that species is locally abundant. We found that respiration rate, a measure of decomposer activity and carbon mineralisation, was affected by litter type and source of soil biota, whereas, mass loss was only affected by litter type. However, litter from each tree species did not decompose faster in the presence of indigenous soil biota. These findings, therefore, provide no support for the notion that woodland plants encourage the development of soil communities that rapidly decompose their litter.     

氮输入对森林土壤有机碳截存与损耗过程的影响

大气氮沉降对受氮限制的陆地生态系统碳截存/损耗的机理尚不清楚,尤其是对土壤有机碳(SOC)的输入、转化和输出过程的认识明显不足。本文论述了外源性氮素(氮沉降、人为增氮)对凋落物分解、土壤有机碳各组分周转的影响,以及土壤呼吸各组分(根系自养呼吸、根际微生物呼吸和SOM分解)对增氮的响应等领域的最新研究进展,指出了在上述研究领域中存在的问题,并提出拟解决的途径以及未来的可能研究方向,以期为该领域的研究提供参考。     

田林老山中山杉木人工林生产力及营养元素循环的研究

广西田林县老山林场中山区气候冷凉潮湿,土壤肥力较高,能满足杉木速生要求。17年生杉木人工林乔木层的生物量达138.46t/ha,平均净生产量为8.15t/ha·a,与杉木中心产区相当。乔木层对N,P,K,Ca,Mg5种营养元素的吸收量为224.04kg/ha·a,其中42.3％存留在林木层,42.5％通过凋落物,15.2％通过降雨淋洗归还土壤。通过凋落物归还是N,P,Ca,Mg归还的主要途径,K的归还主要通过降雨淋洗;K,Ca,Mg的循环系数较大,分别达到0.58,0.68和0.60;N,P相对较小,分别为0.48和0.33。林木正处于生长旺盛阶段,杉木对5种营养元素的吸收量、存留量和归还量以及循环系数都有较高水平,生物量积累也较大。     

岷江上游23年生油松纯林下凋落物与土壤截留降水的效应

为了评价人工林下凋落物与土壤截留降水的能力,定位监测和分析了岷江上游23年生人工油松纯林下凋落物层和土壤层对65次降水事件的截留与分配过程。结果表明,65次林外降水总量为400.9 mm,其中208.726mm以穿透雨、33.388 mm以树干茎流进入林地,凋落物层、土壤层分别截留25.695,214.375 mm,截留率分别是6.41％,53.47％。但林外降水量<0.3 mm时,不产生林内降水,凋落物与土壤层不能截留降水。在0.3～10 mm降水范围内,土壤截留量随着降水增大呈增加趋势,而凋落物层截留率先增后减,但降水量>10 mm后,土壤截留率逐渐趋于稳定,呈较小波动(63.46％～73.58％),而凋落物截留率趋于稳定,并略有下降趋势;土壤截留量与林内外降水量、土壤截留量与茎流量均呈显著线性相关关系。综合分析表明,人工油松林凋落物层和土壤层对降水均有一定的拦蓄截留效应,其中:土壤层>凋落物层,土壤层的截留量达同期林外降水量的1/2以上。