Advantages of mixed tree stands in restoration of upper soil layers on postmining sites: A five‐year leaf litter decomposition experiment

Abstract

No in‐depth studies covering litter decomposition were previously conducted on afforested postmining sites despite the importance of litter decomposition on soil formation, especially in degraded areas. We aimed to compare leaf litter decomposition rates of 14 tree species growing in mixed stands on a postmining spoil heap, and to compare their decay rates with those obtained in pure stands of tree species that are very often planted in postmining areas. The study was conducted on the Bełchatów Lignite Mine spoil heap, central Poland. We studied litter decomposition rates over 5 years using the litterbag method. Leaf litter decomposition rates (k constants; yr−1) after 5 years of the experiment were arranged from highest to lowest as follows: Prunus serotina (1.04), Alnus glutinosa (0.86), Fraxinus excelsior (0.81), Ulmus laevis (0.73), Acer pseudoplatanus (0.68), Populus tremula (0.63), Populus × canadensis (0.59), Betula pendula (0.54), Populus nigra ‘Italica’ (0.38), Quercus rubra (0.36), Pinus sylvestris (0.34), Robinia pseudoacacia (0.34), Fagus sylvatica (0.25), and Quercus robur (0.22). Decomposition rates increased with Mg, Ca, and summed Mg + Ca + P + K contents in freshly fallen leaves (%). All species‐specific decomposition rates were higher in mixed than in Scots pine stands. Half of them were also higher than in pure stands of other tree species. Our results indicate that tree species composition could significantly affect the physiochemical properties of upper soil horizons on reclaimed areas. Based on these findings, we recommend planting high share of not only A. pseudoplatanus, A. glutinosa, and U. laevis but also F. sylvatica and Q. robur in stands on postmining spoil heaps, because mixed stands can accelerate soil development more than pure stands.

Mite Communities (Acari, Mesostigmata) in the Initially Decomposed ‘Litter Islands’ of 11 Tree Species in Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Forest

“…500 m from our study site). Our results are also partly in line with Horodecki and Jagodziński [49] and Horodecki et al [28], who recorded lower decomposition rates for litter of F. sylvatica and Q. rubra in Scots pine stands, but higher rates in mixed stands. Studies on Quercus prinus litter demonstrated that the leaves 'disappeared' slowly and that there was minimal faunal influence on decomposition rates [50].…”

Succession of Mite Assemblages (Acari, Mesostigmata) during Decomposition of Tree Leaves in Forest Stands Growing on Reclaimed Post-Mining Spoil Heap and Adjacent Forest Habitats

“…They also revealed that litter structure might affect litter microclimate, and they also showed significant differences in microarthropod assemblages depending on litter type and whether the litter was single-or mixed-species. Likewise, the fact that in our experiment the oak litter was significantly different from other leaf types might be explained by its different lignin content [64] or a different decomposition rate, which depends on lignin content, as well as microand macroelements [36,54]. According to Osler et al [65] decomposition rate is strongly correlated with microarthropod assemblages, however, only after 20% litter mass loss of the initial weight.…”

“…After extraction of soil invertebrates (see paragraph 2.2. ), in order to determine the rate of decomposition, leaves were dried at 65 • C to obtain a constant dry mass, then the mass loss was determined in relation to the initial litter mass in every litterbag [54].…”

Initial lignin content as an indicator for predicting leaf litter decomposition and the mixed effects of two perennial gramineous plants in a desert steppe: A 5‐year long‐term study

“…In recent years, an increasing number of studies have focused on changes in the decomposition rates of litter composed of a mixture from different species that often exist in nature (Horodecki, Nowiński, & Jagodziński, 2018;Li, Cui, & Yang, 2012;Montané, Romanyà, Rovira, & Casals, 2013;Tan et al, 2013). The results showed that the decomposition characteristics of mixed litter from different species are distinguishable from those of single-species litter.…”