No UV enhancement of litter decomposition observed on dry samples under controlled laboratory conditions

Kirschbaum, Miko U.F.; Lambie, Suzanne; Zhou, Haihua

doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2011.03.001

Cited by 35 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…In addition, for historical reasons related to studies of the effects of stratospheric ozone depletion (29,30), there has been a strong emphasis on evaluating the effects of UV (200-400 nm) radiation (particularly UV-B, 280-315 nm) on litter decomposition, and these studies have yielded equivocal results with respect to the importance of this spectral region as a driver of photodegradation (31,32). Recent evidence has demonstrated that the visible component of sunlight [blue and green wavelengths, 400-550 nm (BG)] can have a large impact on photodegradation (17,20), suggesting…”

Section: Uv Radiationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…that studies wholly focused on UV effects (27,(31)(32)(33) may have underestimated the quantitative importance of solar radiation as a control on carbon turnover.…”

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…2 C and D) provides an important element for conceptual and empirical models aimed to understand the role of photodegradation in litter decomposition in different ecosystems. In addition, the contrasting response of woody and herbaceous species to UV exposure may help to resolve the contradictory results reported for UV effects on photodegradation in terrestrial ecosystems (23,27,(31)(32)(33)(34).…”

Section: Exposure To Solar Radiation Strongly Enhances Subsequent Micmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Photodegradation alleviates the lignin bottleneck for carbon turnover in terrestrial ecosystems

Austin

Méndez

Ballaré

2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

158

211

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A mechanistic understanding of the controls on carbon storage and losses is essential for our capacity to predict and mitigate human impacts on the global carbon cycle. Plant litter decomposition is an important first step for carbon and nutrient turnover, and litter inputs and losses are essential in determining soil organic matter pools and the carbon balance in terrestrial ecosystems. Photodegradation, the photochemical mineralization of organic matter, has been recently identified as a mechanism for previously unexplained high rates of litter mass loss in arid lands; however, the global significance of this process as a control on carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems is not known. Here we show that, across a wide range of plant species, photodegradation enhanced subsequent biotic degradation of leaf litter. Moreover, we demonstrate that the mechanism for this enhancement involves increased accessibility to plant litter carbohydrates for microbial enzymes. Photodegradation of plant litter, driven by UV radiation, and especially visible (blue-green) light, reduced the structural and chemical bottleneck imposed by lignin in secondary cell walls. In leaf litter from woody species, specific interactions with UV radiation obscured facilitative effects of solar radiation on biotic decomposition. The generalized effect of sunlight exposure on subsequent microbial activity, mediated by increased accessibility to cell wall polysaccharides, suggests that photodegradation is quantitatively important in determining rates of mass loss, nutrient release, and the carbon balance in a broad range of terrestrial ecosystems.carbon cycle | plant litter decomposition | photodegradation | lignin |

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Section: Uv Radiationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…that studies wholly focused on UV effects (27,(31)(32)(33) may have underestimated the quantitative importance of solar radiation as a control on carbon turnover.…”

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Exposure To Solar Radiation Strongly Enhances Subsequent Micmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Photodegradation alleviates the lignin bottleneck for carbon turnover in terrestrial ecosystems

Austin

Méndez

Ballaré

2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

158

211

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The mechanism for how photodegradation happens is still imperfectly known, but our earlier experiment indicates that photodegradation may work by increasing subsequent microbial decomposition rate in the wet season [10]. Substantial photo-exposure appears to be necessary, as the effect was not found when plant litter was exposed to lower amounts of radiation [10][11][12]. The mechanism for how photo-exposure affects litter mass loss is insufficiently known, but recent work suggests that it particularly affects the degradation of lignin, the plant compound most resistant to microbial degradation [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Photodegradation for Nutrient Management in the Dry Tropics

Foereid

2012

OJSS

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Nutrient limitation in agriculture is a big problem in many tropical areas. Much research has focused on the optimal use of crop residues in agriculture. Recent work indicates that plant residue decomposition rates, including nutrient release rates can be increased by pre-exposure to sunlight. This has potential as a technology to manipulate nutrient release from residues to match crop demands. The possible development and use of this technology is discussed. There is some evidence that this could increase emissions of trace gases, but the increase is thought to be small. Research needs are discussed.

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“…Considerable research has shown that degradation is affected by experimental conditions (time, environment, and location) and material properties (type and composition) (Schade et al 1999;Brandt et al 2007;Day et al 2007;Kirschbaum et al 2011). In general, when crop residue is exposed to increased UV radiation under dry conditions, the photodegradation of biomass materials is primarily driven by UV irradiation through direct or indirect photolysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Straw Degradation Behaviors under Different Conditions of Relative Air Humidity and Ultraviolet-A Irradiation

Huang

et al. 2016

BioResources

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In this study, straw was degraded continuously for 150 days under one of three levels of relative air humidity (RH) (90%, 60%, or 30%) to estimate the effect of humidity on straw biodegradation. Moreover, straw was treated with ultraviolet (UV)-A irradiation + 90% RH for 180 days to evaluate the interaction between photodegradation and biodegradation. The effects of 30% and 60% RH on straw degradation was inconspicuous. Straw mass losses at 90% RH and UV-A + 90% RH were 18.5% and 39.1%, respectively. BIOLOG analysis showed that filamentous fungi played a major role in straw biodegradation. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that treatment with UV-A + 90% RH tended to increase the maximum pyrolysis rate and decreased the initial pyrolysis temperature. Compared with 90% RH, infrared spectra analysis showed that functional groups of UV-A + 90% RH treatment, e.g., -CH, -C=O, and the benzene ring structure, clearly decreased. Strawdegrading bacteria were observed by scanning electron microscopy at the beginning and end of UV-A + 90% RH treatment. Results highlight the role of humidity in the degree of straw biodegradation by filamentous fungi. Straw degradation is accelerated by the combined action of photodegradation and biodegradation under high UV-A irradiation and high humidity.

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No UV enhancement of litter decomposition observed on dry samples under controlled laboratory conditions

Cited by 35 publications

References 38 publications

Photodegradation alleviates the lignin bottleneck for carbon turnover in terrestrial ecosystems

Photodegradation alleviates the lignin bottleneck for carbon turnover in terrestrial ecosystems

Photodegradation for Nutrient Management in the Dry Tropics

Straw Degradation Behaviors under Different Conditions of Relative Air Humidity and Ultraviolet-A Irradiation

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