Nitrogen release from litter in relation to the disappearance of lignin

Berg, Björn; McClaugherty, Charles

doi:10.1007/bf02187367

Cited by 83 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…In La Sauceda, net disappearance of lignin began long before a net nitrogen release, which coincides with the results found by Berg & McClaugherty (1987) for several types of litter. However, in Doiiana the net release of these two fractions began about the same time, which may indicate a larger proportion of the total nitrogen in the lignin fraction than at La Sauceda.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Most investigators have determined that the initial lignin content or the lignin:N ratio are the best predictors of maximum net immobilization of nitrogen Melillo et al 1982;Berg & McClaugherty 1987Berg 1988). However, in this study, initial tannin content was the parameter that best explained the immobilization phase in both ecosystems.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 56%

“…Net immobilization of nitrogen in litter has been related to the initial nitrogen concentration (Berg & Staff 1981), the initial carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (Berg & Ekbohm 1983) the lignin-to-nitrogen ratio, the initial lignin concentration Melillo et al 1982;Berg & McClaugherty 1987Berg 1988) and the polyphenolic content (Palm & Sanchez 1991). The lignin fraction is a sink for nitrogen during decay, thereby producing the precursors of humus (Stevenson 1982;Berg & Theander 1984;Waring & Schlesinger 1985).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Nitrogen immobilization in leaf litter at two Mediterranean ecosystems of SW Spain

1992

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Abstract. Nitrogen immobilization in relation to the dynamics of lignin and tannins in nine different types of leaf litter was investigated during a 2-yr study at two Mediterranean ecosystems of SW Spain. Net nitrogen immobilization for all the species was higher in a forest than in the more nutrient-poor soil of a shrubland. Absolute amount of lignin increased in both ecosystems in the first 2-4 months whereas tannin rapidly decreased in the same time period. Increases in lignin were significantly correlated to losses of tannins during decomposition. Initial tannin content was the best predictor of the maximum amount of immobilized nitrogen in litter in both ecosystems. Mechanisms that could explain the immobilization of nitrogen in litter are discussed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 56%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Nitrogen immobilization in leaf litter at two Mediterranean ecosystems of SW Spain

1992

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“…Day et al (2007) found a similar result when exposing Larrea tridentata litter with very high lignin concentrations to 85% ambient and 15% ambient UVB, with greater attenuation of UVB corresponding to higher lignin content in samples at the end of the study. While it is possible that UV degraded lignin directly in these studies, it is also possible that increased microbial activity under nearambient radiation confounded their results, given that microbial byproducts can be classified as lignin-like compounds when analyzing litter chemistry McClaugherty 1987, Berg andLaskowski 2005). Rather than direct photolysis, reactive intermediates resulting from indirect photolysis of litter compounds also may have contributed to lignin degradation observed in these studies (King et al 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultraviolet photodegradation facilitates microbial litter decomposition in a Mediterranean climate

Baker

Allison

2015

Ecology

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Abstract. Rates of litter decomposition in dryland ecosystems are consistently underestimated by decomposition models driven by temperature, moisture, and litter chemistry. The most common explanation for this pattern is that ultraviolet radiation (UV) increases decomposition through photodegradation of the litter lignin fraction. Alternatively, UV could increase decomposition through effects on microbial activity. To assess the mechanisms underlying UV photodegradation in a semiarid climate, we exposed high-and low-lignin litter to ambient and blocked UV over 15 months in a Mediterranean ecosystem. We hypothesized that UV would increase litter mass loss, that UV would preferentially increase mass loss of the lignin fraction, and that UV would have a negative effect on microbial activity. Consistent with our first hypothesis, we found that UV-blocking reduced litter mass loss from 16% to 1% in high-lignin litter and from 29% to 17% in low-lignin litter. Contrary to our second hypothesis, UV treatment did not have a significant effect on lignin content in either litter type. Instead, UV-blocking significantly reduced cellulose and hemicellulose mass loss in both litter types. Contrary to our third hypothesis, we observed a positive effect of UV on both fungal abundance and the potential activities of several assayed extracellular enzymes. Additionally, under ambient UV only, we found significant correlations between potential activities of cellulase and oxidase enzymes and both the concentrations and degradation rates of their target compounds. Our results indicate that UV is a significant driver of litter mass loss in Mediterranean ecosystems, but not solely because UV directly degrades carbon compounds such as lignin. Rather, UV facilitates microbial degradation of litter compounds, such as cellulose and hemicellulose. Thus, unexpectedly high rates of litter decomposition previously attributed directly to UV in dryland ecosystems may actually derive from a synergistic interaction between UV and microbes.

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“…A re-examination of soil N cycling processes in natural systems is needed, which should include the information supplied in the agricultural literature over the last 50 yr. A substantial proportion (10-50%) of soil organic N is typically in humin (i.e., soil organic matter that is not digested in a solution of HCl (6 mol/L) (Cheng and Kurtz 1963, Keeney and Bremner 1966, Jorgensen 1967, Johnson 1979, Stevenson 1982, and some studies indicate that the mechanisms of N incorporation into humus are partially nonbiological in nature. The inhibitory effect of lignin on decomposition and N mineralization (Cromack 1973, Melillo et al 1982, Berg et al 1984, Berg and McClaugherty 1987 is due in part to the formation of stable nitrogenous compounds from lignin by-products, reducing N availability to decomposer organisms (Berg et al 1984). Physical condensation reactions of Notes: The Findley Lake site (1130 m phenols (originating from partially degraded lignin and some fungal pigments) with either amino acids or ammonia result in the formation of ''brown, nitrogenous humates'' (Mortland and Wolcott 1965, Nommik 1965, Nommik and Vahtras 1982, Paul and Clark 1989.…”

Section: Retention In Soilmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen Excess in North American Ecosystems: Predisposing Factors, Ecosystem Responses, and Management Strategies

Fenn¹,

Poth²,

Aber³

et al. 1998

Ecological Applications

328

492

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Abstract. Most forests in North America remain nitrogen limited, although recent studies have identified forested areas that exhibit symptoms of N excess, analogous to overfertilization of arable land. Nitrogen excess in watersheds is detrimental because of disruptions in plant/soil nutrient relations, increased soil acidification and aluminum mobility, increased emissions of nitrogenous greenhouse gases from soil, reduced methane consumption in soil, decreased water quality, toxic effects on freshwater biota, and eutrophication of coastal marine waters. Elevated nitrate ( ) loss to groundwater Ϫ

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Nitrogen release from litter in relation to the disappearance of lignin

Cited by 83 publications

References 9 publications

Nitrogen immobilization in leaf litter at two Mediterranean ecosystems of SW Spain

Nitrogen immobilization in leaf litter at two Mediterranean ecosystems of SW Spain

Ultraviolet photodegradation facilitates microbial litter decomposition in a Mediterranean climate

Nitrogen Excess in North American Ecosystems: Predisposing Factors, Ecosystem Responses, and Management Strategies

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