Plant litter decomposition: drivers insight to the ecological process

Abstract

­Decomposition of litter is a function of various interrelated variables; both biotic factors and abiotic factors. Litter decomposition acts like a natural fertilizer, plays a prime role in maintaining the productivity and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystem. So, it is necessary to be aware of the machinery operation behind this significant ecological process. This review is based on the published work carried out in recent years and critically examines the role of different factors involved in litter decomposition, their limitations and gaps to be investigated. Numerous methods are there, litter bag technique is quite simple and handy in investigating and explaining the variations in decomposition rate constant ' k '. It is not surprising that the environment and decomposers are the key players; but role of litter quality cannot be underestimated. Changing climate can alter the microbial diversity and its consequences can be drastic in nature. Under soil aspect, nutrients (N and P), whether endogenous or exogenous, have the ability to modify the process but results are diverse and conflicting. Most of the studies and related information is based on the single species litter decomposition. However, forest ecosystems are mixer of understory herbaceous plants and woody trees and interaction between all the variables and mixed litter surely modify the litter dynamics. Future studies should be focused on how qualitative and quantitative characters of mixed litter, interact with others factors of this promising ecological process. It is necessary to divert the interest towards the mechanism and modeling of decomposition rates ' k ' and rate of nutrient released by mixed litter decomposition with special reference to with global environment change.