Effect of Enzyme Activity Changes on Decomposition Characteristics of Leaf Litter Mixed Decomposition of Configurated Tree Species in Ecological Tea Garden

Abstract

In the management of eco-tea gardens, the recycling of weathered leaves of the configured tree species plays an important role in the nutrients of the tea garden ecosystem. The in situ decomposition method was used to analyze the decomposition rate, elemental release, and enzymatic activity of different combinations of leaf litter in tea garden soil. The results showed that mixed decomposition accelerates the decomposition turnover period of Jiu’an ecological tea garden. The higher release rate of the litter improved the nutrient effectiveness in the ecological tea garden. The trends of CAT (catalase), AP (acid phosphatase), and PPO (polyphenol oxidase) activities were similar during the decomposition of different mixed leaf litters, while all other enzyme activities showed some differences. There were also some differences in the relationship between the enzyme activity and decomposition rate of leaf litter and the nutrient release rate related to the substrate mass content during the decomposition of leaf litter. Overall, the changes in the nutrient content of the leaf litter during decomposition promoted an increase in enzyme activity, which in turn promoted the release of leaf litter elements, shortened the turnover period of leaf litter decomposition, and accelerated the recycling of elements in the ecological tea garden.