Plant Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Release in Peatlands

Bragazza, Luca; Buttler, Alexandre; Siegenthaler, Andy; Mitchell, Edward A. D.

doi:10.1029/2008gm000815

Cited by 44 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 112 publications

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“…The difference between decomposition rates was mostly determined by the quality of leaf-litter inside each ecosystem (Aer ts 1997) which changed with spatial and temporal diversity of environmental factors (Bragazza et al 2008). The smallest mass loss was detected in Carici elongatae−Alnetum association (alder carr) (39.1 ± 9.5%) which is more than double of that reported in Dutch peatlands (Hoorens et al 2003).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 47%

“…Nitrogen immobilization depending on the plant association type could also show differences between Sphagnum dominated vegetation (Bragazza et al 2008). Otherwise the ratio of element contents and losses is significantly higher in the case of our mires following one year decomposition compared to northern boreal bogs (T hor man n et al 1999, C e r t i n i et al 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Decomposition Rate, and Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics ofSphagnumLitter: Lessons from a Peat Bog

Péli

Nagy

Cserhalmi

2016

Polish Journal of Ecology

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 47%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decomposition Rate, and Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics ofSphagnumLitter: Lessons from a Peat Bog

Péli

Nagy

Cserhalmi

2016

Polish Journal of Ecology

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“…In comparison with mineral soils, peatland eutrophication is a more complex process as nutrient enrichment is not necessarily related to an increased input from external sources alone (Bragazza et al, 2009). As peat soil mainly consists of reactive organic matter, the slightest alterations in hydrological conditions can have disproportional effects on fen chemistry.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Topsoil removal in degraded rich fens: Can we force an ecosystem reset?

Emsens

Aggenbach

Smolders

et al. 2015

Ecological Engineering

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A B S T R A C TGlobal land-use intensification and drainage has altered the biogeochemical properties of many peatlands, and concomitant eutrophication has led to a loss of low-competitive fen species. We investigated the hypothesis that removal of a degraded and eutrophied top peat layer, thereby exposing an underlying peat layer, can improve conditions for rich fen restoration. We studied the long-term (3-18 years) effects of past topsoil removal in six rich fens in Western Europe by comparing topsoil removal plots with (untouched) control plots. Overall, topsoil removal plots were characterized by lower bulk densities and soil nutrient pools of P and KCl-extractable NH 4 + , while organic matter contents and soil C:N ratios were higher. Pore water concentrations of NO 3 À and NH 4 + also decreased in the topsoil removal plots, while concentrations of base cations (Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na + , K + ) and HCO 3 À increased.Furthermore, lower nutrient levels appeared to restrict herb biomass production in the topsoil removal plots, so that optimized light conditions led to the establishment of light-demanding target species and a significant increase in bryophyte cover. Multivariate analysis revealed that most variation in vegetation assembly was due to higher groundwater levels in the topsoil removal plots, closely followed by a higher relative light intensity (RLI) at surface level, lower pore water nutrient (NH 4 + ) concentrations, and higher concentrations of base cations. We conclude that topsoil removal can be an effective mechanism to "reset" a degraded peatland to its initial state of nutrient limitation, base saturation and high availability of light, thereby improving the conservation prospects of endangered rich fen communities.

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“…Such understanding is particularly important for peatlands because of their vulnerability to changes in climate and vegetation, and because of the vast stocks of organic carbon that they contain, estimated to equate to half of the total atmospheric carbon as CO 2 (Gorham 1991, Dise 2009). Although previous studies in peatland have shown that warming generally increases rates of decomposition (Bragazza et al 2009, Carrera et al 2009, Dorrepaal et al 2009), and that litter from different plant species decomposes at different rates (Dorrepaal et al 2007, Ward et al 2010, we have little understanding of how live vegetation affects decomposition in these carbonrich ecosystems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation exerts a greater control on litter decomposition than climate warming in peatlands

Ward

Orwin

Ostle

et al. 2015

Ecology

108

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Abstract. Historically, slow decomposition rates have resulted in the accumulation of large amounts of carbon in northern peatlands. Both climate warming and vegetation change can alter rates of decomposition, and hence affect rates of atmospheric CO 2 exchange, with consequences for climate change feedbacks. Although warming and vegetation change are happening concurrently, little is known about their relative and interactive effects on decomposition processes. To test the effects of warming and vegetation change on decomposition rates, we placed litter of three dominant species (Calluna vulgaris, Eriophorum vaginatum, Hypnum jutlandicum) into a peatland field experiment that combined warming with plant functional group removals, and measured mass loss over two years. To identify potential mechanisms behind effects, we also measured nutrient cycling and soil biota. We found that plant functional group removals exerted a stronger control over short-term litter decomposition than did ;18C warming, and that the plant removal effect depended on litter species identity. Specifically, rates of litter decomposition were faster when shrubs were removed from the plant community, and these effects were strongest for graminoid and bryophyte litter. Plant functional group removals also had strong effects on soil biota and nutrient cycling associated with decomposition, whereby shrub removal had cascading effects on soil fungal community composition, increased enchytraeid abundance, and increased rates of N mineralization. Our findings demonstrate that, in addition to litter quality, changes in vegetation composition play a significant role in regulating short-term litter decomposition and belowground communities in peatland, and that these impacts can be greater than moderate warming effects. Our findings, albeit from a relatively short-term study, highlight the need to consider both vegetation change and its impacts below ground alongside climatic effects when predicting future decomposition rates and carbon storage in peatlands.

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Plant Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Release in Peatlands

Cited by 44 publications

References 112 publications

Decomposition Rate, and Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics ofSphagnumLitter: Lessons from a Peat Bog

Decomposition Rate, and Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics ofSphagnumLitter: Lessons from a Peat Bog

Topsoil removal in degraded rich fens: Can we force an ecosystem reset?

Vegetation exerts a greater control on litter decomposition than climate warming in peatlands

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