Abstract
<p class="1Body">Leaf litter quality and quantity can influence soil nutrient dynamics and stream productivity through decomposition and serving as allochthonous stream inputs. Leaf deposition, nitrogen (N)-resorption efficiency and proficiency, and decomposition rates were analyzed in riparian stands of <em>Arundinaria gigantea </em>(Walt.) Muhl.<em> </em>in southern Illinois for the first time to determine potential nutrient cycling from riparian canebrake restoration. Leaf litter was collected from five established canebrakes monthly over one year and a decomposition study was conducted over 72 weeks. Live leaves, freshly senesced leaves, and decomposed leaves were analyzed for carbon (C) and N content. Leaf litterfall biomass peaked in November at twice the monthly average for all but one site, indicating a resemblance to deciduous leaf fall patterns. Nitrogen and C concentrations decreased 48% and 30%, respectively, between live leaves and 72 weeks following decomposition. High soil moisture appeared to slow decomposition rates, perhaps due to the creation of anaerobic conditions. Cane leaves have low resorption proficiency and nutrient-use proficiency, suggesting that these riparian canebrakes are not N limited. Giant cane should be considered in multispecies riparian buffer creation since it has this potential to supply carbon and nitrogen to the soil and to macroinvertebrates in the streams for a longer period of time and year round.</p>
Highlights
The deposition, composition, and decomposition of leaf litterfall are important components of nutrient cycling
Resorption efficiency can be quantified as the percentage of a given nutrient translocated from leaves before abscission (Aerts, 1996)
High resorption efficiency provides a considerable adaptive advantage since it allows species to be less dependent on the uptake of soil nutrients, reducing their losses and increasing the efficiency of their assimilation (Salazar et al, 2011)
Summary
The deposition, composition, and decomposition of leaf litterfall are important components of nutrient cycling. Ratios of C to N in litter affect soil processes, including the rates of net N mineralization of organic matter and decomposition and the availability of soil nutrients in forest ecosystems (Scott & Binkley, 1997; Fassnacht & Gower, 1999; Ferrari, 1999; Perez et al, 2003). The NUE of litter production in an ecosystem is a combination of the species assemblage properties in that ecosystem (Perez et al, 2003) Another parameter employed to quantify nutrient cycling is nutrient-use proficiency (NUP) of resorption, which is defined as the minimum level to which plants can reduce an element in their leaves before leaf senescence (Killingbeck, 1996)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
