Slow decomposition of very fine roots and some factors controlling the process: a 4-year experiment in four temperate tree species

Sun, Tao; Z, Mao; Han, Yingying

doi:10.1007/s11104-013-1755-4

Cited by 70 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…C:N ratio or the concentrations of N and P in various treatments (Hättenschwiler and Bracht Jørgensen, 2010). Similarly, correlations between the decomposition rates of fine roots of four species of temperate forest trees and N, P, C:N or C:P were not significant (Sun et al, 2013). Positive correlations between litter decomposition and C:N ratio could be observed in the later stages of litter decomposition (Berg and Matzner, 1997).…”

Section: Litter Decay and Litter Traitsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Decomposition of Eucalyptus grandis and Acacia mangium leaves and fine roots in tropical conditions did not meet the Home Field Advantage hypothesis

Bachega¹,

Bouillet

Píccolo³

et al. 2016

Forest Ecology and Management

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a b s t r a c tUnlike Eucalyptus monocultures, nitrogen fixing trees are likely to improve the soil nutrient status through the decomposition of N-enriched litter. The Home Field Advantage (HFA) hypothesis states that plants can create conditions that increase the decomposition rates of their own litter. However, there may not be any HFA when most of the decomposers are generalists. A reciprocal transplant decomposition experiment of fine roots and leaves of Acacia mangium and Eucalyptus grandis was undertaken in monocultures of these two species to test the HFA hypothesis using a complete randomized design with three blocks. Three litterbags containing leaf or fine root residues of each species were collected every 3 months from each plot over 12 months for fine roots and 24 months for leaves. The litter mass and C, N and P concentrations were measured at each sampling date. The concentrations of C-compounds were measured 0, 12 and 24 months from the start of the experiment. There was no evidence of HFA for either the leaves or the fine roots of either species. The decomposition rates were slower for Acacia litter than for Eucalyptus litter even though initial N concentrations were 1.9-2.9 times higher and P concentrations were 1.5-3.3 times higher in the Acacia residues. N:P ratios were greater than 20-30 for the residues of both species, with the highest values for Acacia. Litter decomposition depended partly on the C quality of the litter, primarily in terms of water soluble compounds and lignin content. As shown recently in tropical rainforests, these results suggest that the activity of decomposers is limited by energy starvation in tropical planted forests. Decomposer activity may also have been limited by P availability which may not have been directly related to the P concentrations or C:P ratios in the residues.

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Section: Litter Decay and Litter Traitsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Decomposition of Eucalyptus grandis and Acacia mangium leaves and fine roots in tropical conditions did not meet the Home Field Advantage hypothesis

Bachega¹,

Bouillet

Píccolo³

et al. 2016

Forest Ecology and Management

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“…But, unlike aboveground litter, tree root decomposition appears to be controlled primarily by root properties and secondarily by climate (Silver & Miya, 2001). N, P, Ca and lignin contents) and root morphology (diameter, SRL) of DAs indicate that they are more favourable to decomposition than are roots of EGs (Silver & Miya, 2001;Withington et al, 2006;Ostonen et al, 2007;Li et al, 2010;Yuan & Chen, 2010;Lei, Scherer-Lorenzen & Bauhus, 2012;Hellsten et al, 2013;Sun, Mao & Han, 2013). In a given site, both root composition (i.e.…”

Section: (3) Decomposition Of Dead Organic Mattermentioning

confidence: 99%

Influences of evergreen gymnosperm and deciduous angiosperm tree species on the functioning of temperate and boreal forests

et al. 2014

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It has been recognized for a long time that the overstorey composition of a forest partly determines its biological and physical-chemical functioning. Here, we review evidence of the influence of evergreen gymnosperm (EG) tree species and deciduous angiosperm (DA) tree species on the water balance, physical-chemical soil properties and biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nutrients. We used scientific publications based on experimental designs where all species grew on the same parent material and initial soil, and were similar in stage of stand development, former land use and current management. We present the current state of the art, define knowledge gaps, and briefly discuss how selection of tree species can be used to mitigate pollution or enhance accumulation of stable organic carbon in the soil. The presence of EGs generally induces a lower rate of precipitation input into the soil than DAs, resulting in drier soil conditions and lower water discharge. Soil temperature is generally not different, or slightly lower, under an EG canopy compared to a DA canopy. Chemical properties, such as soil pH, can also be significantly modified by taxonomic groups of tree species. Biomass production is usually similar or lower in DA stands than in stands of EGs. Aboveground production of dead organic matter appears to be of the same order of magnitude between tree species groups growing on the same site. Some DAs induce more rapid decomposition of litter than EGs because of the chemical properties of their tissues, higher soil moisture and favourable conditions for earthworms. Forest floors consequently tend to be thicker in EG forests compared to DA forests. Many factors, such as litter lignin content, influence litter decomposition and it is difficult to identify specific litter-quality parameters that distinguish litter decomposition rates of EGs from DAs. Although it has been suggested that DAs can result in higher accumulation of soil carbon stocks, evidence from field studies does not show any obvious trend. Further research is required to clarify if accumulation of carbon in soils (i.e. forest floor + mineral soil) is different between the two types of trees. Production of belowground dead organic matter appears to be of similar magnitude in DA and EG forests, and root decomposition rate lower under EGs than DAs. However there are some discrepancies and still are insufficient data about belowground pools and processes that require further research. Relatively larger amounts of nutrients enter the soil-plant biogeochemical cycle under the influence of EGs than DAs, but recycling of nutrients appears to be slightly enhanced by DAs. Understanding the mechanisms underlying forest ecosystem functioning is essential to predicting the consequences of the expected tree species migration under global change. This knowledge can also be used as a mitigation tool regarding carbon sequestration or management of surface waters because the type of tree species affects forest growth, carbon, water and nutrient cycling.

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“…This may explain why the fine roots decomposed more rapidly than the coarse roots during this phase. Furthermore, lower concentrations of easily accessible labile C fractions and higher concentrations of recalcitrant C fractions stored in the fine roots can affect root decomposition rates; easily accessible labile C increases the decay rate, but recalcitrant C fractions are more abundant in fine roots, slowing the decay rate (Sun et al 2013b). Lin et al (2011) found that very fine (0 to 1 mm) roots decomposed slower than fine (1 to 2 mm) roots of Pinus massoniana.…”

Section: Effect Of Root Size On Decompositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root decomposition ofArtemisia halodendronand its effect on soil nitrogen and soil organic carbon in the Horqin Sandy Land, northeastern China

Luo

Zou

et al. 2016

Ecological Research

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Root decomposition is a critical feedback from the plant to the soil, especially in sandy land where strong winds remove aboveground litter. As a pioneer shrub in semi‐mobile dunes of the Horqin sandy land, Artemisia halodendron has multiple effects on nutrient capture and the microenvironment. However, its root decomposition has not been studied in terms of its influence on soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N). In this study, we buried fine (≤2 mm) and coarse roots in litterbags at a depth of 15 cm below semi‐mobile dunes. We measured the masses remaining and the C and N contents at intervals during 434 days of decomposition. The soils below the litterbags were then divided into layers and sampled to measure the SOC and N contents. After rapid initial decomposition, both coarse and fine roots decomposed slowly. After 53 days, 36.2 % of coarse roots and 39.8 % of fine roots had decomposed. In contrast, only 18.4 % of coarse roots and 30.5 % of fine roots decomposed in the following 381 days. Fine roots decomposed significantly faster, and their decomposition rate after the initial rapid decay was strongly related to climate (R2 = 0.716, P < 0.05). Root decomposition increased SOC and N contents below the litterbags, with larger effects for fine roots. The SOC content was more variable between soil layers than the N content. Thus, decomposition of A. halodendron roots cannot be ignored when studying SOC and N feedbacks from plants to the soil, particularly for fine roots.

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Slow decomposition of very fine roots and some factors controlling the process: a 4-year experiment in four temperate tree species

Cited by 70 publications

References 68 publications

Decomposition of Eucalyptus grandis and Acacia mangium leaves and fine roots in tropical conditions did not meet the Home Field Advantage hypothesis

Decomposition of Eucalyptus grandis and Acacia mangium leaves and fine roots in tropical conditions did not meet the Home Field Advantage hypothesis

Influences of evergreen gymnosperm and deciduous angiosperm tree species on the functioning of temperate and boreal forests

Root decomposition ofArtemisia halodendronand its effect on soil nitrogen and soil organic carbon in the Horqin Sandy Land, northeastern China

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