Regional variation in rate of mass loss of Pinus sylvestris needle litter in Swedish pine forests as influenced by climate and litter quality

The climatic influence on plant litter decomposition has been successfully correlated on a regional level by using estimated actual evapotranspiration (AET) and annual mass loss. This approach was applied to decomposition studies carried out in a transect along Sweden with litter incubated in four different forest types. A unified needle litter was used and among 14 Scots pine sites about 80% of the mass‐loss rate could be explained. A simple model was made on the influence of both climate and nutrient concentrations (nitrogen and phosphorus) on mass‐loss rate. About 90% of the first‐year mass loss could be explained by this approach. As early decomposition stages were studied (<40%) no influence of lignin was observed.     

Variation in litter decomposition-temperature relationships between coniferous and broadleaf forests in Huangshan Mountain,China

A study was conducted to identify the differences in the decompositions of leaf litter, lignin and carbohydrate between coniferous forest and broadleaf forest at 20℃ and 30℃ in Huangshan Mountain, Anhui Province, China. Results showed that at 20℃ mass loss of leaf litter driven by microbial decomposers was higher in broadleaf forest than that in coniferous forest, whereas the difference in mass loss of leaf litter was not significant at 30℃. The temperature increase did not affect the mass loss of leaf litter for coniferous forest treatment, but significantly reduced the decomposition rate for broadleaf forest treatment. The functional decomposers of microorganism in broadleaf forest produced a higher lignin decomposition rate at 20℃, compared to that in coniferous forest, but the difference in lignin decomposition was not found between two forest types at 30℃. Improved temperature increased the lignin decomposition for both broadleaf and coniferous forest. Additionally, the functional group of microorganism from broadleaf forest showed marginally higher carbohydrate loss than that from coniferous forest at both temperatures. Temperature increase reduced the carbohydrate decomposition for broadleaf forest, while only a little reduce was found for coniferous forest. Remarkable differences occurred in responses between most enzymes （Phenoloxidase, peroxidase, !5-glucosidase and endocellulase） and decomposition rate of leaf litter to forest type and temperature, although there exist strong relationships between measured enzyme activities and decomposition rate in most cases. The reason is that more than one enzyme contribute to the mass loss of leaf litter and organic chemical components. In conclusion, at a community scale the coniferous and broadleaf forests differed in their temperature-decomposition relationships.     

The Effect of Starch Amendment on Nitrogen Mineralisation from the Forest Floor Beneath a Range of Conifers

Samples of LFH collected beneath the canopies of 16 coniferousspecies growing at the same site were incubated in the laboratorywith or without a starch amendment. Exchangeable nitrogen presentranged from 10.5–256 and 11.4–512 µgg^–1organic matter for freshly collected and unamended incubationsrespectively. When starch was added material from 11 speciesshowed significantly greater accumulation of mineral nitrogenwith increases ranging from ca 20–1370 per cent. Nitrificationwas negligible except in Thuja plicata where nitrate constituted68 or 83 per cent of the mineral nitrogen present after incubationwithout or with starch respectively. Starch addition increasedrates of net nitrogen mineralisation in LFH material from Piceasitchensis over a range of growth rates. Rates were greatestin material from the most productive stands whether or not starchwas added. The results are discussed with reference to the factorscontrolling litter decomposition and nitrogen mineralisationin the forest floor.     

Apparent controls of mass loss rate of leaf litter on a regional scale

First year litter mass loss was well correlated with actual evapotranspiration (AET) on a global scale. Decomposition values (in the range 0–90% accumulated mass loss) from the literature were compared with AET and to the litters’ nitrogen and lignin concentrations. As much as 65% of the decomposition rate could be explained by AET (n=92). Although both nitrogen and lignin separately gave significant relationships they did not appreciably change the coefficient of determination when added to the AET relationship. Dividing the data into boreal and tropical sets led to a change in the degree of relationship with AET and the chemical components. Higher coefficients of determination were obtained in the tropical systems (about 78 % of the decomposition could be explained by AET and lignin concentration) whereas in the boreal systems AET and nitrogen concentration could explain about 16%. Data on 92 observations of mass‐loss conducted at 25 sites ranging in AET from 285 to 1105 mm were combined to develop new continental scale models of mass loss and to test for the significance of litter quality variables at such scales. Highest monthly precipitation (HPRE), annual precipitation range (PRANGE) and annual AET could each account for about 65% of the variability in rates of mass loss. The best two‐variable model was provided by the combination of AET and PRANGE, explaining about 71% of the mass loss.     

不同立地条件下华北落叶松叶凋落物的分解特性

采用凋落袋法,研究2种立地条件下不同林分密度华北落叶松人工林叶凋落物基质质量、分解速率的差异。结果表明:海拔与坡度是造成2种立地(地位级Ⅲ,Ⅳ)差异的主要因子,华北落叶松叶凋落物季节失质量率均表现出双峰曲线,且在秋季失质量率最高。2种立地条件下,叶凋落物半衰期分别为2.57,2.67年,完全分解分别需要11.09,11.24年。叶凋落物年平均失质量率、分解速率及初始无机养分含量均表现出立地Ⅲ高于立地Ⅳ。与立地Ⅳ相比,在立地Ⅲ下,C/N均值、木质素含量均值更有利于凋落物分解。经t检验分析,2种立地条件下叶凋落物初始无机养分含量之间并无显著差异性,而有机养分中木质素含量、有机碳含量之间差异显著(P<0.05)。相关分析表明:凋落物分解速率与全碳、C/N、凋落物层厚度呈极显著负相关,相关系数分别为-0.735,-0.569,-0.758。叶凋落物质量指标表明:在立地Ⅲ条件下,林分密度为1675株·hm-2最为有利于凋落物分解;在立地Ⅳ条件下,则以林分密度1300株·hm-2最为有利于叶凋落物分解。     

Litter decomposition in pure and mixed Quercus and Fagus stands as influenced by arthropods in Belgrad Forest,Turkey

Arthropod assemblages and decomposition rates were compared in the litter of pure and mixed Quercus(Quercus petraea L.) and Fagus(Fagus orientalis L.)stands.Litter was sampled on a monthly basis for 1 year and stored in litterbags of different mesh sizes.The experimental objective was to test the effect of mesh size on litter decomposition,decomposition rates of litter,and diversity of the invertebrate fauna between the two types of stands.Decomposition rates were measured by filling three fiber litterbags of different mesh sizes with pure Quercus litter(3 g) left in the pure Quercus stand,and litterbags with Fagus litter(3 g) were left in the pure Fagus stand.Mixed litter samples were prepared by mixing of equal amounts of each litter in the same litterbag and leaving them in the mixed stand.The residual mass of litter from the pure Quercus stand was significantly lower in fine-and coarse-mesh bags than in the medium-mesh bags in pure the Fagus stand.Carbon and nitrogen levels in the pure Quercus litter were significantly different among the mesh sizes at the end of the incubation period.Macroarthropods from 27 taxa were collected from pitfall traps every month.Their relative numbers differed significantly between the pure and mixed-stand litter samples.Litter-dwelling Isotomidae(Collembola) and Mesostigmata(Acarina),and soil-dwelling Mesostigmata were the most numerous in the mixed stand.It is significant that the abundance of macroarthropods contributed to the mass loss of litter in both the medium and coarse mesh sizes in the mixed stand,but did not significantly affect the mass of litter in the pure stands.In the mixed stand,there was a negative correlation between litter mass loss and total number of microarthropods in all mesh sizes.Mixed-stand litter decomposed more slowly than pure-stand litter.     

Effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ips typographus</Emphasis> (L.) damage on litter quality and decomposition rates of Oriental Spruce [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea Orientalis</Emphasis> (L.) Link.] in Hatila Valley National Park,Turkey

This study investigated the effects of Ips typographus (L.) damage on initial litter quality parameters and subsequent decomposition rates of oriental spruce tree species [Picea orientalis (L.) Link]. The needle litter was collected from highly damaged, moderately damaged and control stands on two aspects (north and south) and two slope position (top and bottom) on each aspect. The litter was analyzed for initial total carbon, lignin and nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and manganese) concentrations. The variability in nitrogen and calcium concentrations and ratios of C:N, lignin:N and lignin:Ca was significantly affected by the insect damaged levels. While nitrogen concentrations in needle litter increased with increasing insect damage (and consequently the ratios of C:N and lignin:N decreased), calcium concentrations decreased (and consequently the ratio of lignin:Ca increased). Aspect and slope positions explained most of the variability in carbon, lignin, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and manganese concentrations and lignin:P ratio between all studied stands. Litter decomposition was studied in the field using the litterbag technique. The litter from highly damaged stands showed highest decomposition rates followed by moderately damaged and control stands. The mass loss rates were significantly positively correlated with initial nitrogen concentration and negatively with C:N and lignin:N ratios. The effects of microclimate resulting from canopy damage on litter decomposition was also examined at the same time using standard litter with the same litter quality parameters, but they showed no significant differences among the insect damage levels indicating that alteration of the litter quality parameters produced by I. typographus damage played a more important role than altered microclimate in controlling needle litter decomposition rates. However, changes in microclimate factors due to topography influenced decomposition rates.     

气候和枯落物质量对印度东部亚热带森林凋落叶分解和营养回归的影响(英文)

为了评价印度东部曼尼普尔亚热带橡树混交林中的土壤养分收支平衡情况,研究了全年不同月份的3个主要树种,枹栎(Quercus serrata)、木荷(Schima wallichi)和滇石栎(Lithocarpus dealbata)的枯落物分解和营养回归情况。印度东部橡树林是生产柞蚕丝的重要经济树种。林下2-7月月枯落物为25.6 g·m-2(7月)和198.0 g·m-2(2月),年枯落物为1093 8g·m-2。在初始月(11月3),滇石栎森林壤土的氮和碳浓度最高,其次是在枹栎林。最低的是木荷林。但就木质素和纤维素含而言,木荷林中的最高,其次是袍栎林和滇石栎林。滇石栎林(k=0.54)具有较高的枯落物分解率,这与月初枯落物中含有较高的氮和碳浓度以及低含量的纤维素相符合。然而,在木荷森林中枯落物分解率低,是与月初时森林土中具有低浓度氮和碳及高浓度木质素和纤维素相符合。在不同月份,剩余的生物量与木质素、碳、碳氮比和纤维素含量呈正相关,但与氮含量呈负相关。由于环境条件的影响,在寒冷和冬季枯落物分解率最低,而在雨季枯落物分解率最高。图3表5参52。     

海南岛尖峰岭热带林凋落叶分解过程的研究*

本项研究采用尼龙网袋和网罩法对尖峰岭热带丰落叶季雨林和热带山地雨林凋落叶的分解过程进行对比观测,结果表明,两年凋落叶的分解失重率依次为92.27％、78.01％(网袋法)和99.08％、95.41％(网罩法),凋落叶的分解速度网罩法略快于网袋法。半落叶季雨林凋落叶的分解比山地雨林的快,腐解率K值前者为2.172(罩)和1.596(袋),后者为1.578和0.836,完全分解所需的理论时间约为2a和6a。在凋落叶分解过程中,元素的迁移序列各有异同,其中半落叶季雨林为:K>Ca>Na>Mg>N>C>P>Al>Fe>Si;山地雨林为:K>Ca>Mg>Na>C N>P>Al>Si>Fe。     

Carbon and nitrogen dynamics in early stages of forest litter decomposition as affected by nitrogen addition

The effects of nitrogen(N) availability and tree species on the dynamics of carbon and nitrogen at early stage of decomposition of forest litter were studied in a 13-week laboratory incubation experiment.Fresh litter samples including needle litter(Pinus koraiensis) and two types of broadleaf litters(Quercus mongolica and Tilia amurensis) were collected from a broadleaf-korean pine mixed forest in the northern slope of Changbai Mountain(China).Different doses of N(equal to 0, 30 and 50 kg·ha-1yr-1, respecti...     

Litter production and decomposition dynamics in moist deciduous forests of the Western Ghats in Peninsular India

A field study was conducted in the moist deciduous forests of the Western Ghats (India) to test the following three hypotheses: (1) Litter production in tropical forests is a function of the floristic composition, density, basal area and disturbance intensity; (2) Decay rate constants of tropical species is an inverse function of the initial lignin/nitrogen ratio; (3) Decomposition rates in tropical forests are faster than temperate forests.

Litter fall was estimated by installing 63 litter traps in the moist deciduous forests of Thrissur Forest Division in the Western Ghats at three sites. Litter fall followed a monomodal distribution pattern with a distinct peak during the dry period from November–December to March–April.Dillenia pentagyna, Grewia tiliaefolia, Macrosolen spp.,Xylia xylocarpa, Terminalia spp.,Lagerstroemia lanceolata, Cleistanthus collinus, Bridelia retusa, andHelicteres isora were the principal litter producing species at these sites. The annual litter fall ranged from 12.18 to 14.43 t ha⁻¹. Structural attributes of vegetation such as floristic composition, basal area, density and disturbance intensity did not directly influence litter fall rates.

Leaf litter decay rates for six dominant tree species were assessed following the standard litter bag technique. One hundred and eight litter bags per species containing 20 g samples were installed in the forest floor litter layer at the same three sites selected for the litter fall quantification exercise. The residual litter mass decreased linearly with time for all species. In general, less disturbed sites and species adapted to higher nitrogen availabilities exhibited relatively higher decay rate coefficients (k). The rapid organic matter turnover observed in comparison with published temperate forest litter decay rates confirms that tropical moist deciduous forest species are characterised by faster decomposition rates.

Mean concentrations of N, P and K in the litter were profoundly variable amongst the dominant species. Initial nitrogen content of the leaf litter varied from 0.65 to 1.6%, phosphorus from 0.034 to 0.077% and potassium from 0.25 to 0.62%.C. collinus, an understorey shrub consistently recorded the lowest litter concentrations for all nutrients. The overriding pattern is one of higher nutrient levels in the overstorey leaf litter and lower concentrations in the understorey litter. Furthermore, as decomposition proceeded, the nitrogen concentration of the residual biomass increased.     

A comparison of decomposition dynamics among green tree leaves,partially decomposed tree leaf litter and their mixture in a warm temperate forest ecosystem

Decomposition dynamics were compared among green tree leaves, partially decomposed tree leaf litter (i.e., decayed tree leaf litter on forest floor) and a mixture of the two in a warm temperate forest ecosystem in central China to test the influence of litter chemical quality on the degree of decomposition. The study was conducted in situ at two contrasting forest sites, an oak forest dominated by Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata Maxim., and a mixed pine and oak forest dominated by Pinus armandii Franch. and Q. aliena var. acuteserrata. We found marked differences in the rate of decomposition among litter types at both forest sites; the litter decomposition constant, k, was about 39 % greater at the oak forest site and more than 70 % greater at the pine-oak forest site, for green leaves than for partially decomposed leaf litter. The decomposition dynamics and temporal changes in litter chemistry of the three litter types also greatly differed between the two forest sites. At both forest sites, the higher rate of decomposition for the green leaves was associated with a higher nitrogen (N) content and lower carbon to N ratio (C/N) and acid-unhydrolyzable residue to N ratio (AUR/N). We did not find any non-additive effects when mixing green leaves and partially decomposed leaf litter. Our findings support the contention that litter chemical quality is one of the most important determinants of litter decomposition in forest ecosystems at the local or regional scale, but the effect of litter chemical quality on decomposition differs between the contrasting forest types and may vary with the stage of decomposition.     

Leaf litter decomposition of dominant tree species of Namdapha National Park,Arunachal Pradesh,northeast India

Rates of weight loss and nutrient (N and P) release patterns were studied in the leaf litter of the dominant tree species (Ailanthus grandis, Altingia excelsa, Castanopsis indica, Duabanga sonneriatioides, Dysoxylum binectariferum, Mesua ferrea, Shorea assamica, Taluma hodgsonii, Terminalia myriocarpa and Vatica lancefolia) of a tropical wet evergreen forest of northeast India. Nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization rate and decay pattern varied significantly from species to species. In general, the decay pattern, characterized by using a composite polynomial regression equation, exhibited three distinct phases of decay during litter decomposition—an initial slow decay phase (0.063% weight loss day⁻¹), followed by a rapid decay phase (0.494% weight loss day⁻¹) and a final slow decay phase (0.136% weight loss day⁻¹). The initial chemical composition of the litter affected decomposition rates and patterns. Species like D. sonneriatoides, D. binectariferum, and T. hodgsonii with higher N and P content, lower carbon and lignin content, and lower C:N ratio and lignin:N ratio exhibited relatively faster decomposition rates than the other species, for example M. ferrea, C. indica and A. grandis. A slow decay rate was recorded for species such as M. ferrea, C. indica, and A. grandis. The initial N and P content of litter showed significant positive correlations with decay rates. Carbon and lignin content, lignin:N, and C:N showed significant negative correlations with decay rates. Soil total N and P, and rainfall, soil temperature, and soil moisture had positive correlations with decay rates. The rapid decomposition rates observed in comparison with other different forest litter decay rates confirm that tropical wet evergreen forest species are characterized by faster decomposition rates, indicating a faster rate of organic matter turnover and rapid nutrient cycling.     

Microarthropod colonization of litter in arboreal and soil environments of a Japanese cedar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis>) plantation

We used leaf-litter and bark-litter bags to examine the colonization patterns of microarthropods in arboreal and soil microhabitats of a Cryptomeria japonica plantation. The mass loss of leaf-litter was slower in the arboreal environment than in the soil environment. The variation in leaf-litter mass among litter bags increased markedly with increasing decomposition in the soil, and was smaller in the arboreal environment. The colonization processes of microarthropods differed between the arboreal and soil leaf-litter bags. In the arboreal bags, Collembola, Gamasida, and Prostigmata had a peak density in the summer of the second year after establishing the bags whereas Oribatida maintained relatively constant densities until 15 months. In the soil bags, Collembola colonized the litter first, and Gamasida and Prostigmata subsequently colonized the more decomposed litter. The vertical colonization patterns of the major microarthropods were consistent at all heights on the tree trunk. Slow decomposition in arboreal litter reflected severe conditions for most decomposers throughout the experimental study. In contrast, severe conditions of arboreal litter may lead to a relatively stable resource for limited microarthropods that have physiological tolerance for unfavorable conditions. Because of the traits of these fauna, the arboreal litter may thus be utilized seasonally by Collembola and Gamasida, but continuously by Oribatida. We suggest that soil microarthropods would be more affected by successional changes than by seasonal changes, because of faster decomposition of the litter, whereas arboreal microarthropods would be more affected by seasonal changes because of slow decomposition processes in the arboreal environment.     

亚热带不同植被恢复林地凋落物层碳、氮、磷化学计量特征

【目的】探究不同植被恢复阶段林地凋落物层现存量及其碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)化学计量的差异,为亚热带地区退化林地的植被恢复和管理提供科学依据。【方法】采用空间代替时间的方法,在位于亚热带丘陵区的湖南省长沙县选取地域相邻、环境条件基本一致的4种处于不同植被恢复阶段林地:檵木-南烛-杜鹃灌草丛(LVR)、檵木-杉木-白栎灌木林(LCQ)、马尾松-柯(又名石栎)-檵木针阔混交林(PLL)、柯-红淡比-青冈常绿阔叶林(LAG)作为一个恢复序列,设置固定样地,按未分解层、半分解层和已分解层采集凋落物层分析样品,测定凋落物层现存量以及不同分解层凋落物C、N、P含量及其化学计量比。【结果】1)凋落物层及其各分解层凋落物的现存量总体上随着植被恢复而增加,同一林地不同分解层表现为:已分解层>半分解层>未分解层,不同分解层之间的差异随着植被恢复而增大。2)凋落物层C含量以PLL最高,LCQ最低,而N、P含量总体上随着植被恢复而增高;C、N、P含量随着凋落物的分解而下降。3)无论是整个凋落物层C储量还是各分解层凋落物C储量,均以PLL最高,其次是LAG,LVR最低,而N、P储量随着植被恢复而增高。4)整个凋落物层以及各分解层凋落物的C/N比值均表现为:PLL>LVR>LCQ>LAG,而C/P、N/P比值总体上随着植被恢复呈下降趋势;C/N、C/P、N/P比值基本上随着凋落物的分解而下降。【结论】随着植被恢复,凋落物层现存量及其N、P含量增加,C/N、C/P、N/P比值下降,体现了生态系统物质循环随着植被恢复逐渐优化。     

Influence of slope position, stand type and rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum) on litter decomposition rates of Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky.) and spruce [Picea orientalis (L.) Link]

Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky.) and Oriental spruce [Picea orientalis (L.) Link] are the two most common tree species in northeast Turkey. Their distribution, stand type and understorey species are known to be influenced by topographical landforms. However, little information is available as to how these changes affect litter decomposition rates of these two species. Here, we investigated the effects of slope positions (top 1,800 m, middle 1,500 m and bottom 1,200 m), stand type (pure and mixed stands) and purple-flowered rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum) on litter decomposition rates of Oriental beech and spruce for 4 years using the litterbag technique in the field. Among these three factors, stand type had the strongest influence on litter decomposition (P < 0.001, F = 58.8), followed by rhododendron (P < 0.001, F = 46.8) and slope position (P < 0.05, F = 11.6). Litter decomposition was highest under mixed beech/spruce forest, followed by pure beech and spruce forest. Beech and spruce litter decomposed much faster in mixed bags (beech–spruce) than they did separately under each stand type. Purple-flowered rhododendron significantly reduced litter decomposition of Oriental beech and spruce. Beech and spruce litter decomposed much slower at top slope position than at either bottom or middle position. Differential litter decomposition of Oriental beech and spruce was mainly due to adverse conditions in spruce forest and the presence of rhododendron on the ground which was associated with lower soil pH. Higher elevations (top slope position) slowed down litter decomposition by changing environmental conditions, most probably by decreasing temperature as also other factors are different (pH, precipitation) and no detailed investigations were made to differentiate these factors. The adverse conditions for litter decomposition in spruce forest can be effectively counteracted by admixture of beech to spruce monoculture and by using the clear-cutting method for controlling rhododendron.     

Decomposition and nutrient release in needle litter from nitrogen‐fertilized scots pine (pinus sylvestris) stands

Decomposition of Scots pine needle litter originating from five stands treated with different amounts of nitrogen fertilizer was measured over a 4‐year period in a mature Scots pine forest. The litter types, which differed in initial concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur, but not in gross organic composition, were studied with respect to mass loss, ingrowth of total fungal mycelium, and net release of nutrients. During the first year of decomposition, rates of mass loss and ingrowth of fungal mycelium were highest in the nutrient‐rich litter. Phosphorus concentration was found to be the main factor affecting mass‐loss rate, and the rate of fungal ingrowth was positively correlated with initial nitrogen concentration. After this initial period, decomposition rates decreased, and after 4 years, accumulated mass loss and amounts of fungal mycelium were similar in all five litter types. These findings may be due, in part, to a lower rate of lignin decomposition in nitrogen‐enriched litter. Of the elements, potassium and magnesium were most rapidly lost from the litter, and their release was most pronounced during the first year. Calcium release was proportional to the loss in organic matter. Initially, the release of nitrogen and phosphorus was positively related to their concentrations in litter, however, during later stages of decomposition the differences among litter types levelled out. There was a tendency for concentrations of all elements, except nitrogen, in the different litters to approach similar levels as decomposition proceeded. Thus, after 4 years the nutrient composition of the various litter types was very similar, except for higher nitrogen concentrations in the originally most nutrient‐rich litters. The importance of the results in terms of substrate quality in fertilized as well as in non‐fertilized forests is discussed.     

不同林龄油松人工林叶凋落物分解特性

2005年在北京市延庆县营盘村附近中山采用网袋法,比较21、29、36年生油松叶凋落物分解动态、分解速率、基质质量的差异.结果表明:在所观测的14个月内,不同林龄油松叶凋落物分解动态差异较小,均呈快椔龡快的规律,翌年5至7月份凋落物分解速率低于2005年同期的分解速率.21 a、29 a、36 a油松叶凋落物分解速率分别为26.97％、26.10％和23.96％,半分解周期分别为2.21 a、2.29 a和2.54 a,周转期分别为9.54 a、9.91 a和10.94 a.凋落物分解速率、半周转期、周转期失重率仅在0.1水平上差异显著.林龄对叶凋落物N影响最大(P=0.004),对粗灰分(P=0.028)影响显著.林龄对纤维素、木质素、粗脂肪、粗蛋白影响不显著.不同林龄叶凋落物C/N(P=0.009)、木质素/N(P=0.048)显著差异,C/N、木质素/N与叶凋落物分解速率相关系数均为-0.333.     

不同密度华北落叶松叶凋落物年际分解动态研究

不同林分密度下叶凋落物基质物质、养分动态及分解速率研究对人工林密度管理具有重要的实践意义。2009—2011年应用分解网袋法对不同林分密度等级下叶凋落物3年间的分解速率、养分动态及化学成分的变化进行测定分析,结果表明:1)凋落物叶失重率年际变化为倒"V"型变化;高密度林分Ⅰ失重率在第3年与其它林分密度存在极显著差异,说明密度对凋落物分解的影响有时间效应。2)分解速率所体现出的林分密度调控效应与失重率及木质素与氮的比值在试验的3年内均保持负相关的变化规律,故木质素/氮、失重率可作为凋落物分解速率的预测指标;可用灰分含量作为周转时间的指示指标。3)N,K的养分动态为释放—固定循环模式;P为平衡波动—固定模式,Mg为持续固定模式,Ca表现出单一的释放—固定变化模式。     

Contribution of soil fauna to the degradation of recalcitrant components in Cinnamomum camphora foliar litter in different-sized gaps in Pinus massoniana plantations

Forest gaps are important in forest dynamics and management, but little is known about how soil fauna influence the degradation of recalcitrant litter components in different-sized forest gaps. This investigation uses litterbags with two different mesh sizes (0.04 and 3 mm) to control the meso- and microfauna entering the bags to quantify the contribution of soil fauna to the degradation of recalcitrant components (including condensed tannins, total phenol, lignin and cellulose) during litter decomposition. The experiment was conducted in seven different forest gap sizes in Pinus massoniana plantations over 1 year. One closed-canopy site (CC) and forest gap sizes of 100, 225, 400, 625, 900, 1225 and 1600 m^2 were created in a P. massoniana plantation in the Sichuan basin of China;the CC was treated as the control. Cinnamomum camphora foliage from local native trees was used in all forest gap experiments. We found the following:(1) Gap size had significant effects on the degradation rates (E) of condensed tannins and lignin and on the contributions of soil fauna;medium-sized gaps also presented high degradation rates. Soil fauna obviously contributed to the degradation of recalcitrant foliar litter components in medium-sized gaps.(2) The highest contribution to degradation (40.98%) was recorded for lignin, and the lowest contribution (0.29%) was recorded for condensed tannins. The results indicate that medium-sized gaps (900 m^2) were conducive to the degradation of recalcitrant litter components by soil fauna.