Abstract

The rate of plant litter decomposition depends on two simultaneous processes: the decomposition and stabilization of organic matter. To compare the rates of these processes in various ecosystems now a Tea Bag Index (TBI) is widely used. The samples of standard material (green tea and rooibos) were buried into soil at the depth of 8 cm in four herbaceous plant communities of Central Forest State Nature Biosphere Reserve (CFSNBR) and seven communities of the Moscow river floodplain near the MSU Zvenigorod biological station (ZBS). Considering the mass losses of samples during the incubation time we calculated the values of decomposition constant and stabilization factor according to the protocol by J. A. Keuskamp et al. (2013) and estimated the links of these parameters with Ellenberg’s ecological indicator values. The stabilization factor values ranged from 0.122 g/g in Filipendula community of CFSNBR to 0.379 g/g at the natural levee of the Moscow river, and the decomposition constant values ranged from 0.0089 g/g/day in Filipendula community of CFSNBR to 0.0308 g/g/day at the slope of the high floodplain. The mean values of these parameters were significantly positively correlated. The decomposition rate was lower in the communities of CFSNBR and was positively correlated with the soil pH Ellenberg’s indicator values. The stabilization factor values did not depend on the region and decreased with the increase in soil moisture and nitrogen. The mainland meadows of CFSNBR and the meadows of the high floodplain of the Moscow river, belonging to Cynosurion cristati alliance, had the most similar parameters of decomposition.

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