Decomposition responses of pine (Pinus massoniana) needles with two different nutrient-status to N deposition in a tropical pine plantation in southern China

Abstract

• The effect of nitrogen (N) deposition on the decomposition of pine (Pinus massoniana) needles in a tropical pine plantation was studied. The pine needles with two different nutrient status (nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor) were used, followed by 3-levels of N treatments (Control: no N addition, Low- N: 5 g N m−2 y−1, and Medium-N: 10 g N m−2 y−1 experimental inputs), which had been applied for 26 months continuously before this experiment and continued throughout the decomposition measurement. • The main objective was to test the hypothesis that decomposition of nutrient-rich needles would be more sensitive to cumulative N deposition than the decomposition of nutrient-poor needles. • Nitrogen addition had negative effect on mass loss, and the release of N and P from decomposing nutrient-rich needles but little or no effect on the decomposition of nutrient-poor needles. In addition, a negative effect in the initial decomposition phase and a positive effect in later decay stages were found on C release. The negative effect was stronger on nutrient-rich needles than on nutrient-poor needles, but the reverse was true for the positive effect. • Our results suggest that response of litter decomposition to N deposition may vary depending on the nutrient status of the litter.