Leaf litter decomposition in the pure and mixed plantations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cunninghamia lanceolata</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Michelia macclurei</Emphasis> in subtropical China |
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Authors: | Qingkui Wang Silong Wang Yu Huang |
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Institution: | (1) Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China;(2) Huitong National Station of Forest Ecology, Huitong, 418307, China;(3) Science and Technology Department of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410001, China |
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Abstract: | Leaf litter decomposition of Cunninghamia lanceolata, Michelia macclurei, and their mixture in the corresponding stands in subtropical China was studied using the litterbag method. The objective
was to assess the influence of native evergreen broadleaved species on leaf litter decomposition. The hypotheses were: (1)
M. macclurei leaf litter with lower C/N ratio and higher initial N concentration decomposed faster than C. lanceolata litter, (2) decomposition rates in litter mixtures could be predicted from single-species decay rates, and (3) litters decomposed
more rapidly at the site that contained the same species as in the litterbag. The mass loss of leaf litter was positively
correlated with initial N concentration and negatively correlated with C/N ratio. The decomposition rate of M. macclurei leaf litter was significantly higher than that of C. lanceolata needle litter in the pure C. lanceolata stand. Contrary to what would be predicted, the litter mixture decomposed more slowly than expected based on the results
from component species decomposing alone. There was no significant difference in litter decomposition rate between different
habitats. |
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Keywords: | Litter decomposition Litter mixing Home-field advantage Subtropical region |
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