Nutrients in forest litter treated with naphthalene and simulated throughfall: A field microcosm study

The effects of naphthalene (arthropod exclusion) and simulated throughfall (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) additions on the decomposition and mineralization of dogwood (Cornus florida L.) litter were studied by using a field microcosm approach in a southeastern United States deciduous forest. Treatments without microarthropods decayed more slowly than litter with microarthropods. Simulated throughfall additions alone had no effect on litter decay rates. Fauna, simulated throughfall, and fauna plus simulated throughfall treatments increased the nutrient concentrations of decomposing litter; the treatment with both microarthropods and simulated throughfall generally exhibited the highest nutrient concentrations. Simulated throughfall also significantly increased microarthropod densities in litter. Litter immobilization of elements in throughfall was insignificant in litter with microarthropods; naphthalene-treated litter immobilized up to 8% of the elements contained in simulated throughfall.