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Foliar nutrient resorption (FNR) is a key process in the dynamics of nutrients in a forest ecosystem. Along with other factors, FNR regulates the chemical composition of the forest floor and, consequently, the rates of organic matter decomposition and soil nutrient availability. The main objective of the present study was to examine the effect of FNR of two deciduous oak species (Quercus castanea and Q. deserticola) in the litter and soil nutrient dynamics, in addition to analyze whether the interaction between two species was positive (synergistic) or negative (antagonistic) through the mixed litter from two species. For this purpose, the nutrient concentration of green leaves, litterfall, litter and soil was measured, as well as soil microbial activity. These measurements were taken in isolated stands with the presence of one of the oak species and stands with the two oak species mixed. Quercus deserticola, with lower FNR, produced litter with a higher N concentration, which apparently enhancing microbial activity in the forest floor litter and increased nutrient transformations and soil fertility. In contrast, Q. castanea has a higher FNR and produced litter with a lower nutrient concentration. The microbial soil community associated with Q. castanea must therefore invest more energy in metabolic processes at the expense of biomass growth. However, forest floor nutrient transformations were more intense and soil fertility increased in areas where both species intermix; in this case, the latter species received the rich-nutrient litterfall of Q. deserticola. These results suggest a strong footprint of species traits on microbial activities and soil nutrient transformations.

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BackgroundLitter decomposition is a key process in the functioning of forest ecosystems, because it strongly controls nutrient recycling and soil fertility maintenance. The interaction between the litter chemical composition and the metabolism of the soil microbial community has been described as the main factor of the decomposition process based on three hypotheses: substrate-matrix interaction (SMI), functional breadth (FB) and home-field advantage (HFA). The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of leaf litter quality (as a direct plant effect, SMI hypothesis), the metabolic capacity of the microbial community (as a legacy effect, FB hypothesis), and the coupling between the litter quality and microbial activity (HFA hypothesis) on the litter decomposition of two contiguous deciduous oak species at a local scale.MethodsTo accomplish this objective, we performed a litterbag experiment in the field for 270 days to evaluate mass loss, leaf litter quality and microbial activity in a complete factorial design for litter quality and species site.ResultsThe litter of Quercus deserticola had higher rate of decomposition independently of the site, while the site of Quercus castanea promoted a higher rate of decomposition independently of the litter quality, explained by the specialization of the soil microbial community in the use of recalcitrant organic compounds. The Home-Field Advantage Index was reduced with the decomposition date (22% and 4% for 30 and 270 days, respectively).DiscussionWe observed that the importance of the coupling of litter quality and microbial activity depends on decomposition stage. At the early decomposition stage, the home-advantage hypothesis explained the mass loss of litter; however, in the advanced decomposition stage, the litter quality and the metabolic capacity of the microbial community can be the key drivers.

In this work, we present the results of a soil study in the Teuhtli volcano, located to the south of the Basin of Mexico with the aim to understand the pedogenetic pathways and the evolution of the landscape dynamics. Two different types of soil prof iles were sampled: in “conserved” areas, with less anthropogenic influence and in sites with intense agriculture activities since pre-Hispanic times. The three conserved prof iles are located in different landscape positions: the Cima prof ile in the summit, the Ladera prof ile in the high slope, and the Yotecón in a lower position of the piedemont. The agriculture prof iles are La Cruz, La Era and El Llano, situated in the foothill. Properties in both kind of soils are similar, however, in agriculture sites, structure (evaluated in macro and microscale) is weaker, total organic carbon content is smaller and bulk density is higher. Both soils show two main pedogenetic processes: andosolization and carbonate formation. Despite the age of the parent material (36 000 years), the Andosol phase has not been lost. This is because of the geomorphological dynamics of the zone, in which the processes of erosion and colluviation promote soil loss, restarting the pedogenetic clock. The detection of lithological discontinuities (by the Ti/Zr ratio) documents these processes. By the other hand, the formation of pedogenic carbonates is governed by the seasonal conditions of drought. The age of these carbonates places their formation in the mid-Holocene, an epoch for which drier conditions are detected in other sites of the Basin of Mexico. The agricultural land use has also promoted morphological, chemical and physical changes in the soils. The continuous tillage of the sites has prevented the soils from developing. This could have a negative effect on the fertility of those soils currently used to sustain the peri-urban agroecosystems of Mexico City.