Litterfall and leaf litter decomposition in a central African tropical mountain forest and Eucalyptus plantation

Cizungu, Landry; Staelens, Jeroen; Huygens, Dries; Walangululu, Jean; Muhindo, Daniel; Cleemput, Oswald Van; Boeckx, Pascal

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2014.04.015

Cited by 68 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…However, in our study, the decay rate of fine roots seemed less related to its C/N ratio (Table 1 and Figure 2). The observed decrease in decomposition rates of both leaves and fine roots with increasing lignin concentration in our study parallels the results obtained by Cizungu et al [6]. Also, the concentration of litter lignin was negatively related to decomposition rate, as has been reported several times [12,13].…”

Section: Effects Of Tree Species On Litter Decompositionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Potentially, the relatively low contribution of the high quality E. fordii litter in mixed forest may have suppressed its additive effect on the litter mixture decomposition, indicating that a mixed litter is not necessarily better than a monoculture one. The lack of an additive effect in forest litter mixture was also observed in the initial decomposition in a central African tropical mountain forest [6].…”

Section: Effects Of Tree Species On Litter Decompositionmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Litter mixtures usually decompose faster compared with the expected decomposition rates derived from the individual mono-specific litter types in the mixture [6,50]. This may result from niche differentiation due to an increased variety of substrates yielding increased microbial biomass and faster decomposition [4].…”

Section: Effects Of Tree Species On Litter Decompositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Decomposition of Leaves and Fine Roots in Three Subtropical Plantations in China Affected by Litter Substrate Quality and Soil Microbial Community

Luo

Cheng

Shi

et al. 2017

Forests

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Leaf and root litter decomposition has been a major research focus. However, the possible effects of belowground microbial community structure and diversity on this process are poorly understood. Understanding the biochemical mechanisms controlling aboveground decomposition processes is important to predict the changes of soil carbon and nutrient cycling in response to changes of forest management regimes. Here, we explore the biochemical controls of leaf and fine root decomposition in three subtropical plantations (Ford Erythrophleum (Erythrophleum fordii Oliver), Masson Pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.)), and a mixed plantation containing both species) using the litterbag method, and soil microbial communities were determined using phospholipid fatty acid profiles. Overall, leaves decomposed more rapidly than fine roots, potentially due to the faster degradation of their cellulose component, but not lignin. In addition, leaf and fine root decomposition rates varied among plantations, being higher in E. fordii and lower in P. massoniana. Substrate quality such as N, Ca, lignin concentration, and C/N ratio were responsible for the decomposition rate changes among plantation types. Moreover, we used redundancy analysis to examine the relationships between litter decomposition and soil microbial community composition and diversity. Results revealed that actinobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi community were the key determinants affecting leaf and fine root litter decomposition, respectively. Our work demonstrates that litter decomposition was linked to substrate quality and to the structure of soil microbial communities, and evidences the probable role of E. fordii in increasing soil nutrient availability, especially N, P and Ca. Additional data on phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) or DNA marker groups within the litterbags over time may provide insights into litter decomposition dynamics, which represents potential objectives for future long-term decomposition studies.

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Section: Effects Of Tree Species On Litter Decompositionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Effects Of Tree Species On Litter Decompositionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Section: Effects Of Tree Species On Litter Decompositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Decomposition of Leaves and Fine Roots in Three Subtropical Plantations in China Affected by Litter Substrate Quality and Soil Microbial Community

Luo

Cheng

Shi

et al. 2017

Forests

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“…6 shows characteristics of the sites sampled) exhibited the same trend in annual variation. They peaked in the dry season and at the onset of the rainy season, as has been found in other studies (Cizungu et al 2014). Monthly litterfall was highly variable, ranging from 0.01 to 1.09 Mg ha -1…”

Section: Nutritional Evaluationsupporting

confidence: 83%

Nutritional, carbon and energy evaluation of Eucalyptus nitens short rotation bioenergy plantations in northwestern Spain

Gonzalez-Garcia¹,

Hevia²,

Majada³

et al. 2016

iForest

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This study provides essential information related to the nutrient and carbon levels and the energy potential of Eucalytpus nitens (Deane & Maiden) Maiden bionenergy plantations located in northwestern Spain. Nutritional analysis showed that leaves and bark had the highest concentrations of N, P, K and Mg. Carbon concentration was constant for all above-ground tree components. Nutrients and carbon were analyzed at stand level according to plantation productivity. Stemwood, the main tree component at the end of the rotation, had the highest nutrient content, except for N and Ca, which were highest in leaves and bark respectively. . The results obtained are valuable for selecting the most appropriate forest management system in these bioenergy plantations, and thereby promote the sustainable use of woody crops.

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“…These changes in turn alter ecosystem processes, including nutrient cycling and productivity. A number of studies have investigated the effects of disturbance on litterfall, but these have mostly focused on the effects of catastrophic natural disturbances, such as typhoons (Barlow et al, 2007b;Cizungu et al, 2014;Dezzeo and Chacón, 2006;Gairola et al, 2009;Shure and Phillips, 1987;Vendrami et al, 2012). The effects of anthropogenic forest disturbance on litter nutrient quality and nutrient inputs is less well understood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Litterfall and nutrient return along a disturbance gradient in a tropical montane forest

Paudel

Dossa

et al. 2015

Forest Ecology and Management

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Litterfall and leaf litter decomposition in a central African tropical mountain forest and Eucalyptus plantation

Cited by 68 publications

References 57 publications

Decomposition of Leaves and Fine Roots in Three Subtropical Plantations in China Affected by Litter Substrate Quality and Soil Microbial Community

Decomposition of Leaves and Fine Roots in Three Subtropical Plantations in China Affected by Litter Substrate Quality and Soil Microbial Community

Nutritional, carbon and energy evaluation of Eucalyptus nitens short rotation bioenergy plantations in northwestern Spain

Litterfall and nutrient return along a disturbance gradient in a tropical montane forest

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