Global spectra of plant litter carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and returning amounts

Abstract

Litter decomposition is a key ecological process that determines carbon (C) and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. The initial concentrations of C and nutrients in litter play a critical role in this process, yet the global patterns of litter initial concentrations of C, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are poorly understood. We employed machine learning with a global database to quantitatively assess the global patterns and drivers of leaf litter initial C, N and P concentrations, as well as their returning amounts (i.e. amounts returned to soils). The medians of litter C, N and P concentrations were 46.7, 1.1, and 0.1%, respectively, and the medians of litter C, N and P returning amounts were 1.436, 0.038 and 0.004 Mg ha−1 year−1, respectively. Soil and climate emerged as the key predictors of leaf litter C, N and P concentrations. Predicted global maps showed that leaf litter N and P concentrations decreased with latitude, while C concentration exhibited an opposite pattern. Additionally, the returning amounts of leaf litter C, N and P all declined from the equator to the poles in both hemispheres. Synthesis: Our results provide a quantitative assessment of the global concentrations and returning amounts of leaf litter C, N and P, which showed new light on the role of leaf litter in global C and nutrients cycling.

Comparative analysis of mycorrhizal communities associated with Struthiopteris spicant (L.) Weiss across Europe and North America

“…Across geographically distant populations, we found that mean annual temperature had a slight effect on AMF community composition. Temperature and precipitation not only affect plant physiology and ecology (e.g., the uptake of C, P, and N) ( Větrovský et al., 2019 ; Yuan et al., 2024 ) but also the interaction between fungal functional groups ( Tedersoo et al., 2014 ).…”

Climate and soil properties regulate the initial concentrations of potassium, calcium and magnesium in plant litter on a global scale

“…We classified N 2 -fixing ability (N 2 -fixing vs. non-N 2 -fixing) at the genus level according to previously compiled databases (Afkhami et al, 2018;Steidinger et al, 2019;Werner et al, 2014) and determined life form (woody vs. herbaceous) based on a published study (Richardson & Rejmánek, 2011). The taxonomic division (angiosperm vs. gymnosperm) was classified by referencing several online databases following a recent study (Yuan et al, 2024).…”

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“…Across geographically distant populations, we found that mean annual temperature had a slight effect on AMF community composition. Temperature and precipitation not only affect plant physiology and ecology (e.g., the uptake of C, P, and N) (Veťrovskýet al, 2019;Yuan et al, 2024) but also the interaction between fungal functional groups (Tedersoo et al, 2014).…”