Litter Quality of Two Remnant Tree Species Affects Soil Microbial Activity in Tropical Seasonal Pastures in Western Mexico

Abstract

In degraded soils of tropical seasonal pastures, native remnant tree species that differ in foliar morphology, litter quality, and quantity might be quite useful as an organic input for improving soil fertility. The objective of this study was to analyze litter quality effects on soil microbial activity from two native remnant trees: Caesalpinia eriostachys Benth. (Caesalnaceae) and Cordia elaeagnoides DC (Boraginaceae), located within a tropical seasonal pasture matrix dominated by Panicum maximum Jacq. (Poaceae). The substrate-induced respiration method was used to determine soil microbial activity in a laboratory incubation experiment. A 3 × 3 factorial laboratory experiment for litter type and soil origin was carried out by adding leaf litter to soil in a reciprocal fashion to evaluate the relative effect of litter quality on substrate-induced respiration. Potential C mineralization rate and net microbial C immobilization from soil under C. elaeagnoides and C. eriostachys were higher with endogenous litter (260 ± 24 µg C g−1 d−1 and 242 ± 11 µg C g−1 d−1 for C. elaeagnoides and C. eriostachys, respectively) than with exogenous litter. Potential carbon mineralization and net microbial C immobilization in soil under P. maximum increased with litter from C. eriostachys due to other leaf-litter quality parameters as lignin concentration and lignin:N ratio. Therefore, C. eriostachys litter addition on soil under grass species may help to stabilize soil organic matter, promoting soil microbial biomass and activity. The net immobilization of microbial N under two remnant tree species and grass species was negative, indicating an N mineralization from microbial biomass.