Fine root decomposition in tropical dry evergreen and dry deciduous forests in Thailand

Abstract

Dry evergreen forest (DEF) and dry deciduous dipterocarp forest (DDF) are major forest types extensively distributed in northeastern Thailand, exhibiting different nutrient cycling properties. This study aims to improve our understanding on the pattern of mass loss and nitrogen release from two categories of roots (fine, <2 mm and small, 2–5 mm) of Hopea ferrea at DEF and fine roots of mixed trees and dwarf bamboo (Arundinaria pusilla) at DDF sites. Decomposition experiment was performed for more than 12 months using buried litter bag technique. Initial chemistry was significantly different among the four root litters; fine root of H. ferrea exhibited a low ratios of C:N and acid-insoluble:N. The fine root of dwarf bamboo was characterized by high contents of total carbohydrate and ash. Decomposition rate constants (year−1) of ash-free weight remaining were 1.27 and 0.55 for fine and small roots of H. ferrea, and 0.73 and 0.66 for fine root of mixed trees and dwarf bamboo, respectively. At the end of the experiment, the N concentration in fine and small roots of H. ferrea increased to 1.5 times the initial concentration. Whereas, N mass of dwarf bamboo decreased during the experiment. This suggests a different pattern of root decomposition and N release in two forest ecosystems. Generally, the fine root decomposition was faster in the DEF than in the DDF. The role of initial litter chemistry was more pronounced than the climatic seasonality on the belowground decomposition pattern in our study.