Effects of three rates of atmospheric nitrogen deposition enriched with 15N on litter decomposition in a heathland

Vuuren, Margret M.I. Van; Eerden, L.J. van der

doi:10.1016/0038-0717(92)90076-a

Cited by 57 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…There were no significant increases in absolute N concentrations in the litters from the fertilized and unfertilized plots (data not presented) as might be expected as a consequence of microbial immobilization if N was limiting decomposition processes. Van Vuuren & Van Der Eerden (1992) observed 15 N immobilization by heather litters in a heathland in the Netherlands but the litter decomposition rates were unaffected.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperature, nitrogen availability and mixture effects on the decomposition of heather [Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull] and bracken [Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn] litters

Anderson

Hetherington

1999

Functional Ecology

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1. Heather moorlands in the upland regions of the United Kingdom are under threat from changes in land use and management, the potential effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition and climate warming. Displacement of heather (Calluna vulgaris) stands by bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) is also widespread. 2. Field (Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve) and laboratory studies were carried out to investigate decomposition rates of heather and bracken litters. The effects of fertilization with mineral N (50 kg ha–1 year–1 added in four increments) and temperature responses of microbial respiration in decomposing litters were determined. 3. The qualities of heather and bracken litters were similar with 1·5% N, 22·3% cellulose and 40·6% lignin in heather, and 1·32% N, 28·9% cellulose and 49·0% lignin in bracken. Total concentrations of phenylpropanoid derivatives (PPDs) from lignin (by alkaline CuO oxidation) and total hydrolysable carbohydrates (using TFA) were similar for the two litter types, but there were qualitative differences in the constituents of the lignins and hemicelluloses. 4. Bracken and heather litters in 1 mm mesh bags both lost about 34% of initial mass over 18 months but 1:1 mixtures of the two litters showed 14% higher losses over the same period. These mixture effects could not be explained in terms of litter quality. Laboratory studies, on litter mixtures incubated on sterile sand and soil organic matter, suggested that the mechanisms involved interactions between components of litter microbial communities; possibly fungal endophytes. 5. The decomposition rates of heather and bracken litters were about 10% higher in the N‐fertilized plots than control plots while the mixtures showed nearly 15% higher mass losses. 6. Heather and bracken litters incubated in the laboratory with temperature cycles varying from 2 °C to 24 °C for heather and 2 °C to 27 °C, for bracken, showed rapid depletion of available carbohydrates over 2 months. Despite the changes in litter quality the temperature response coefficient (Q10≅ 2·5) showed little change over this period. 7. It is concluded that synergistic interactions between litter types, which may occur when bracken invades heather stands, can significantly increase surface litter decomposition rates and that N fertilization can further enhance mass losses. The extent to which these interactions affect litter standing crops, plant species interactions and organic matter dynamics in peaty upland soils, remains to be determined.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperature, nitrogen availability and mixture effects on the decomposition of heather [Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull] and bracken [Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn] litters

Anderson

Hetherington

1999

Functional Ecology

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“…Higher rates of respiration in graminoid-dominated communities are also associated with the rapid decomposition of labile litter, which has lower concentrations of phenolic and lignin compounds than woody shrub litter (Aerts, 1990;Chapin, 2003;De Deyn et al, 2008). Calluna litter decomposes more slowly than graminoid litter (Heal et al, 1978;Hopkins et al, 1988;Van Vuuren and Van der Eerden, 1992), and slower decomposition of shrub than graminoid litter has been shown to drive the accumulation of C in shrub-invaded grassland (Montané et al, 2010). Total soil C was increased by shrub encroachment of grassland in 33 out of 59 studies (Eldridge et al, 2011).…”

Section: Co 2 Fluxes Within Grass-and Calluna-dominated Communitiesmentioning

confidence: 97%

Calluna vulgaris-dominated upland heathland sequesters more CO2 annually than grass-dominated upland heathland

Quin

Artz

Coupar

et al. 2015

Science of The Total Environment

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“…Litter decomposition studies using 15 N tracers or 15 N-labeled litter (Berg, 1988;Van Vuuren and Van Der Eerden, 1992;Downs et al, 1996;Koopmans et al, 1998;Zeller et al, 2000) observed that exogenous N inputs were both incorporated and released along with net release of litter N over time. Undoubtedly, litters in our study released a portion of the labeled N inputs they assimilated during the 2 years.…”

Section: Litter Retention Of N Inputs To the Ecosystemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decomposing litter as a sink for -enriched additions to an oak forest and a red pine plantation

Micks

Downs

Magill

et al. 2004

Forest Ecology and Management

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Effects of three rates of atmospheric nitrogen deposition enriched with 15N on litter decomposition in a heathland

Cited by 57 publications

References 12 publications

Temperature, nitrogen availability and mixture effects on the decomposition of heather [Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull] and bracken [Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn] litters

Temperature, nitrogen availability and mixture effects on the decomposition of heather [Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull] and bracken [Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn] litters

Calluna vulgaris-dominated upland heathland sequesters more CO2 annually than grass-dominated upland heathland

Decomposing litter as a sink for -enriched additions to an oak forest and a red pine plantation

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