Inter-comparison of methods for quantifying above-ground leaf litter decomposition rates

Cotrufo, M. Francesca; Ngao, Jérôme; Marzaioli, Fabio; Piermatteo, Daniela

doi:10.1007/s11104-010-0388-0

Cited by 47 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…A decline in leaf level C-uptake in the dry treatment has been previously reported (Ripullone et al, 2009). Additionally, at our study site, throughfall displacement significantly slowed down above-ground litter decomposition, as compared to the control (Cotrufo et al, 2010). Litter decomposition is a process that depends on the moisture level of the litter layer (Anderson, 1991) which, contrary to the moisture level of the soil profile, was significantly affected by the 20 % throughfall exclusion (data not shown).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 67%

“…This finding would suggest that most of the increase in soil respiration observed at the site in wet plots as compared to control was driven by an enhanced belowground C allocation and root turnover, with a minor contribution from the enhancement of the native soil organic matter decay rate. However, in a parallel study we measured from a 7 % up to a 30 % increase, depending on the method of study, in leaf litter turnover time in the wet plots as compared to the control (Cotrufo et al, 2010). Given the much larger actual soil C efflux with respect to the soil C input at our study site, and the relatively high contribution of heterotrophic respiration to total soil CO 2 efflux in Mediterranean deciduous forests (Subke et al, 2006), C may be circulating faster in the soil of wet plots as compared to control, with little net effect on the total soil C stocks.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Decreased summer drought affects plant productivity and soil carbon dynamics in a Mediterranean woodland

et al. 2011

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Abstract. Precipitation patterns are expected to change in the Mediterranean region within the next decades, with projected decreases in total rainfall and increases in extreme events. We manipulated precipitation patterns in a Mediterranean woodland, dominated by Arbutus unedo L., to study the effects of changing precipitation regimes on aboveground net primary production (ANPP) and soil C dynamics, specifically plant-derived C input to soil and soil respiration (SR). Experimental plots were exposed to either a 20 % reduction of throughfall or to water addition targeted at maintaining soil water content above a minimum of 10 % v/v. Treatments were compared to control plots which received ambient precipitation. Enhanced soil moisture during summer months highly stimulated annual stem primary production, litter fall, SR and net annual plant-derived C input to soil which on average increased by 130 %, 26 %, 58 % and 220 %, respectively, as compared to the control. In contrast, the 20 % reduction in throughfall (equivalent to 10 % reduction in precipitation) did not significantly change soil moisture at the site, and therefore did not significantly affect ANPP or SR. We conclude that minor changes (around 10 % reduction) in precipitation amount are not likely to sig-

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 67%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decreased summer drought affects plant productivity and soil carbon dynamics in a Mediterranean woodland

et al. 2011

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“…The mesh on the upper side of the bag was 0.8 mm polyester (Nylon Net, Memphis, TN) and allows access to soil organisms and the bottom mesh was 0.2 mm polypropylene mesh (Synthetic Industries, Atlanta, GA) to prevent loss. Though mesh bags can alter field litter decomposition rates [44], we are most interested in relative differences between the litter treatments and thus used this common technique. The initial mass of individual species’ litter placed in mixed species litterbags was equal to 2 g (air-dried) divided by the number of species (i.e., there was an equal total mass of litter in each bag).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaf Litter Mixtures Alter Microbial Community Development: Mechanisms for Non-Additive Effects in Litter Decomposition

et al. 2013

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To what extent microbial community composition can explain variability in ecosystem processes remains an open question in ecology. Microbial decomposer communities can change during litter decomposition due to biotic interactions and shifting substrate availability. Though relative abundance of decomposers may change due to mixing leaf litter, linking these shifts to the non-additive patterns often recorded in mixed species litter decomposition rates has been elusive, and links community composition to ecosystem function. We extracted phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) from single species and mixed species leaf litterbags after 10 and 27 months of decomposition in a mixed conifer forest. Total PLFA concentrations were 70% higher on litter mixtures than single litter types after 10 months, but were only 20% higher after 27 months. Similarly, fungal-to-bacterial ratios differed between mixed and single litter types after 10 months of decomposition, but equalized over time. Microbial community composition, as indicated by principal components analyses, differed due to both litter mixing and stage of litter decomposition. PLFA biomarkers a15∶0 and cy17∶0, which indicate gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria respectively, in particular drove these shifts. Total PLFA correlated significantly with single litter mass loss early in decomposition but not at later stages. We conclude that litter mixing alters microbial community development, which can contribute to synergisms in litter decomposition. These findings advance our understanding of how changing forest biodiversity can alter microbial communities and the ecosystem processes they mediate.

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“…While most decomposition studies have used litter bags, where decomposition rates may not mimic natural decomposition processes (see Silver and Miya, 2001;Cotrufo et al, 2010), we calculated decomposition rates based on the decrease in '^C content of fine roots over 17 mo of incubation in the field (Table 2). Annual grass fine roots showed rapid decomposition (23.3% mo"') compared to total soil organic '^C (4.0% mo"'), particularly between the first summer and autumn after plant senescence, when the decomposition rate was 43% mo"' (Fig.…”

Section: Dynamics Of Soil Carbon Flowmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon Flow from Plant Detritus and Soil Organic Matter to Microbes—Linking Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Semiarid Soils

Hooker¹,

Stark²

2012

Soil Science Soc of Amer J

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We used in situ '^C-labeling of an annual grass to examine the decomposition rate and fate of detrital C over 17 mo in a sagebrush ecosystem. We coupled these measurements with ^^N pool dilution and tracer measurements to examine seasonal changes in gross N cycling rates in bulk soil and organic matter density fractions. Annual grass fine roots decomposed rapidly (0.23 mo"^) over the 17 mo, substantially faster than rates typically reported for other semiarid ecosystems using litterbags. Despite a long summer dry period, recent detrital C was rapidly respired and incorporated into microbial biomass and nonmicrobial fractions between summer and autumn. Decomposition of recent detritus accounted for 13% of mineralized C and 9% of microbial C produced during the summer following plant labeling. These proportions declined by 50% in autumn, indicating that microbes relied more heavily on recent detritus for C and energy during the dry summer than during the following moist autumn months. In spite of this, decomposition rates of recent plant detritus were faster during autumn than summer due to higher rates of microbial activity. Nitrogen immobilization into soil organic matter (SOM) fractions increased from summer to autumn and was fastest in spring. Rates of N immobilization into the supposedly recalcitrant heavy-fraction (HF) SOM were faster than into the light fraction; however, rates in light and heavy fractions were similar when expressed per unit organic C. Rates of N immobilization were positively correlated with the i^C content of density fractions, suggesting that inputs of new plant C were an important driver of N immobilization. While addition of NH4+ stimulated nitrification rates in both summer and autumn, NH^"'' addition only stimulated rates of N immobilization during spring, indicating that heterotrophic microbial growth was N limited during spring but C limited during summer and autumn when plants were not actively growing. Our results indicate that root decomposition in semiarid soils is more rapid than previously thought, and is not likely to be N limited. Moreover, HF SOM is not as recalcitrant as is frequently assumed, but instead, it is a strong sink for recent plant C inputs and a driver of N immobilization in soil.

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Inter-comparison of methods for quantifying above-ground leaf litter decomposition rates

Cited by 47 publications

References 36 publications

Decreased summer drought affects plant productivity and soil carbon dynamics in a Mediterranean woodland

Decreased summer drought affects plant productivity and soil carbon dynamics in a Mediterranean woodland

Leaf Litter Mixtures Alter Microbial Community Development: Mechanisms for Non-Additive Effects in Litter Decomposition

Carbon Flow from Plant Detritus and Soil Organic Matter to Microbes—Linking Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Semiarid Soils

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