Abstract
Soil moisture was an important factor affecting litter decomposition. However, less attention has been given to the complete succession ecosystem after farmland abandonment. To better understand the effect of moisture on leaf litter decomposition after farmland abandonment, in this study, we used three water gradients (10%, 25% and 50%) of field moisture capacity for succession vegetation. Furthermore, we used the typical species leaf litter decomposition of four succession stages—grassland (GL), shrubland (SL), pioneer forest (PF), and climax forest (CF) from the Loess Plateau of China. The results showed that leaves decomposition rate exhibited an increasing pattern with increasing moisture contents. The decomposition trend was shown as GL > SL > PF > CF. During the decomposition process, the leaf carbon concentration (LC) and leaf nitrogen concentration (LN) changed, but non-significantly. The effects of LC, LN, and LC: LN on leaf decomposition varied with vegetation type. Soil properties such as NH4+, NO3−, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), and leaf quality parameters such as leaf cellulose, lignin, lignin: LN, and lignin: LC played an important role in driving leaf litter decomposition. Overall, the results provide evidence that litter decomposition in secondary forest succession system was linked to leaf and soil nutrient dynamics, and was limited by soil moisture.
Highlights
Litter decomposition is one of the most important ecological processes that controls the conversion of carbon and nutrients in terrestrial ecosystems [1,2]
Studies have found that litter decomposition rate is positively correlated with soil moisture [6], and the influence of soil moisture changes on litter decomposition rate varies with litter quality [8]
This study focused on the typical vegetation of four succession stages under three water gradients after farmland abandonment in the Ziwuling area; the study assessed the effect of grassland (GL), shrubland (SL), pioneer forest (PF), and climax forest (CF) on leaf decomposition and nutrient dynamics, evaluate the effect of moisture on litter decomposition, and explore the factors that affecting litter decomposition
Summary
Litter decomposition is one of the most important ecological processes that controls the conversion of carbon and nutrients in terrestrial ecosystems [1,2]. It is an important link between material circulation and energy flow [3,4]. Soil moisture is an important environmental factor that regulates the decomposition of litter in terrestrial ecosystems [5]. In arid and semi-arid ecosystems, litter decomposition rate is largely limited by the availability of soil moisture [6]. Changes in soil moisture availability will affect soil microorganisms abundance and community [7], which will have a considerable impact on litter decomposition rate. The effect of soil moisture on litter decomposition in different vegetation is still unclear
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