Decomposition and nutrient release in needle litter from nitrogen‐fertilized scots pine (<i>pinus sylvestris)</i>stands

Berg, Björn; Staaf, Håkan; Wessén, Bengt

doi:10.1080/02827588709382478

Cited by 119 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…1B). External N fertilization can slow late-stage decomposition by inhibition of microbial synthesis of lignolytic enzymes (Berg et al 1987, Carreiro et al 2000, abiotic interactions between N fertilizer and decomposition byproducts (Nommik and Vahtras 1982), and/or N effects on the microbial community (Hobbie 2008). These inhibitory effects are strongest where added N greatly exceeds ambient deposition, and for high-lignin litter (Knorr et al 2005), both of which apply to our study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 48%

“…Only Berg et al (2000) studying Picea abies found that high initial litter N can slow decomposition, but this occurred only after 1 yr, in contrast to our finding that high initial litter N slowed decomposition both before and after 1 yr. All of these studies examined decomposition of a single species of relatively lignin-rich (.20% by weight) coniferous litter, and except for the comparison of green vs. brown litter (i.e., Berg et al 1982), they generally show that high initial litter N has either negligible or inhibitory effects on decomposition. While the slowing of late-stage decomposition in high N litter is thought to reflect N inhibition of lignin degradation (Berg et al 1987), it is less clear why high N would slow early-stage decomposition when labile carbon in litter is most abundant. It is paradoxical that early-stage (0.67 yr) decomposition in our unfertilized plots would be negatively related to internal tissue N, yet positively related to external N fertilization (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In studies of Pinus sylvestris in cool temperate forests, Berg and colleagues reported that fresh green litter with high-N (1.2% N) decomposed nearly twice as fast as brown litter with low-N (0.4% N) after 1.5 yr (Berg et al 1982), then subsequently reported for brown litters that high-N litter (0.8% N) decomposed only 5% faster than low-N litter (0.4% N) after 1 yr (Berg et al 1987), and in both studies there with no differences among litters after 3 and 4 yr. In warmer subtropical climate, Enoki and Kawaguchi (2000) similarly found that high-N litter v www.esajournals.org (0.8% N) of P. thunbergii decomposed slightly (;5%) more quickly than low-N litter (0.4% N) for 6 months, with no difference at 9 months.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Interactions of tissue and fertilizer nitrogen on decomposition dynamics of lignin‐rich conifer litter

Perakis¹,

Matkins²,

Hibbs³

2012

Ecosphere

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Abstract. High tissue nitrogen (N) accelerates decomposition of high-quality leaf litter in the early phases of mass loss, but the influence of initial tissue N variation on the decomposition of lignin-rich litter is less resolved. Because environmental changes such as atmospheric N deposition and elevated CO 2 can alter tissue N levels within species more rapidly than they alter the species composition of ecosystems, it is important to consider how within-species variation in tissue N may shape litter decomposition and associated N dynamics. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii ) is a widespread lignin-rich conifer that dominates forests of high carbon (C) storage across western North America, and displays wide variation in tissue and litter N that reflects landscape variation in soil N. We collected eight unique Douglas-fir litter sources that spanned a two-fold range in initial N concentrations (0.67-1.31%) with a narrow range of lignin (29-35%), and examined relationships between initial litter chemistry, decomposition, and N dynamics in both ambient and N fertilized plots at four sites over 3 yr. High initial litter N slowed decomposition rates in both early (0.67 yr) and late (3 yr) stages in unfertilized plots. Applications of N fertilizer to litters accelerated early-stage decomposition, but slowed late-stage decomposition, and most strongly affected low-N litters, which equalized decomposition rates across litters regardless of initial N concentrations. Decomposition of N-fertilized litters correlated positively with initial litter manganese (Mn) concentrations, with litter Mn variation reflecting faster turnover of canopy foliage in high N sites, producing younger litterfall with high N and low Mn. Although both internal and external N inhibited decomposition at 3 yr, most litters exhibited net N immobilization, with strongest immobilization in low-N litter and in N-fertilized plots. Our observation for lignin-rich litter that high initial N can slow decomposition yet accelerate N release differs from findings where litter quality variation across species promotes coupled C and N release during decomposition. We suggest reevaluation of ecosystem models and projected global change effects to account for a potential decoupling of ecosystem C and N feedbacks through litter decomposition in lignin-rich conifer forests.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 48%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Interactions of tissue and fertilizer nitrogen on decomposition dynamics of lignin‐rich conifer litter

Perakis¹,

Matkins²,

Hibbs³

2012

Ecosphere

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“…Fig. 8). (B) Concurrent patterns in atmospheric concentrations of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (--) (Watson et al 1990) and in nitrate concentrations at the mouth of the Mississippi River (---) (Turner and Rabelais 1991 ). plants often decomposes and releases nutrients more rapidly than that of conspecific unfertilized plants (Vitousek 1983, Berg et al 1987. Moreover, where N deposition causes plant species replacement, the N-responsive species that are favored generally cycle more N externally through litter and produce more readily decomposable litter than do the species they replace, thereby driving a positive feedback towards increased availability of N ( van Vuuren et al 1992, Berendse 1993.…”

Section: Nitrogen Biogeochemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond Global Warming: Ecology and Global Change

Vitousek¹

1994

Ecology

1,526

840

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“…This could result in a reduction in litter and soil organic matter decomposition (Berg et al 1987;Fog 1988;Carreiro et al 2000, Waldrop et al 2004, and a decrease in the mineralization of old and humified organic matter (Hagedorn et al 2003), which ultimately leads to greater soil C accumulation. In contrast, chronic N deposition tends to increase the activity of cellulose degrading enzymes (Ajwa et al 1999;Carreiro et al 2000;Saiya-Cork et al 2002;Keeler et al 2009) thus increasing the degradation of cellulose-rich litter (Fog 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic nitrogen fertilization and carbon sequestration in grassland soils: evidence of a microbial enzyme link

et al. 2015

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Chronic nitrogen (N) fertilization can greatly affect soil carbon (C) sequestration by altering biochemical interactions between plant detritus and soil microbes. In lignin-rich forest soils, chronic N additions tend to increase soil C content partly by decreasing the activity of lignin-degrading enzymes. In cellulose-rich grassland soils it is not clear whether cellulose-degrading enzymes are also inhibited by N additions and what consequences this might have on changes in soil C content. Here we address whether chronic N fertilization has affected (1) the C content of light versus heavier soil fractions, and (2) the activity of four extracellular enzymes including the C-acquiring enzyme b-1,4-glucosidase (BG; necessary for cellulose hydrolysis). We found that 19 years of chronic N-only addition to permanent grassland have significantly increased soil C sequestration in heavy but not in light soil density fractions, and this C accrual was associated with a significant increase (and not decrease) of BG activity. Chronic N fertilization may increase BG activity because greater N availability reduces root C:N ratios thus increasing microbial demand for C, which is met by C inputs from enhanced root C pools in N-only fertilized soils. However, BG activity and total root mass strongly decreased in high pH soils under the application of lime (i.e. CaCO 3 ), which reduced the ability of these organo-mineral soils to gain more C per units of N added. Our study is the first to show a potential 'enzyme link' between (1) long-term additions of inorganic N to grassland soils, and (2) the greater C content of organo-mineral soil fractions. Our new hypothesis is that the 'enzyme link' occurs because (a) BG activity is stimulated by increased microbial C demand relative to N under chronic fertilization, and (b) increased BG activity causes more C from roots and from microbial Responsible Editor: Sharon A. Billings. Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article

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Decomposition and nutrient release in needle litter from nitrogen‐fertilized scots pine (pinus sylvestris)stands

Cited by 119 publications

References 26 publications

Interactions of tissue and fertilizer nitrogen on decomposition dynamics of lignin‐rich conifer litter

Interactions of tissue and fertilizer nitrogen on decomposition dynamics of lignin‐rich conifer litter

Beyond Global Warming: Ecology and Global Change

Chronic nitrogen fertilization and carbon sequestration in grassland soils: evidence of a microbial enzyme link

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