Climate Effect on Characteristics of Litter Decomposition and Nitrogen Release under Three Grassland Ecosystems

Abstract

Characteristics of litter decomposition and carbon and nitrogen release were comparatively studied under meadow, typical and desert steppe ecosystems. The results showed that litter under meadow ecosystem had the highest decomposition rate constant of biomass, percentage of carbon, nitrogen and cellulose loss than that under typical and desert steppe ecosystems. Analysis of variance showed that there were obvious significant differences in decomposition rate constant of biomass, percentage of carbon, nitrogen and cellulose loss of litter among three grassland ecosystems. Stepwise regression analysis showed that annual average relative humidity played significant or very significant impact on decomposition rate constant of biomass, percentage of cellulose, carbon, nitrogen loss under three grassland ecosystems. Therefore, litter decomposition and nitrogen release was mainly influenced by precipitation under different grassland ecosystems.