Separation of grassland litter and ecosite influences on seasonal soil moisture and plant growth dynamics

Deutsch, Eliza S.; Bork, Edward W.; Willms, Walter D.

doi:10.1007/s11258-010-9729-6

Cited by 44 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 58 publications

(86 reference statements)

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“…It has been shown that litter reduces evaporation from the soil and the temperature amplitude (Deutsch et al . ; Loydi et al . ), which have positive effects during dry periods, in areas of high insolation or with high temperatures (Facelli & Pickett ; Loydi et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Negative and positive interactions among plants: effects of competitors and litter on seedling emergence and growth of forest and grassland species

et al. 2014

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Living plant neighbours, but also their dead aboveground remains (i.e. litter), may individually exert negative or positive effects on plant recruitment. Although living plants and litter co-occur in most ecosystems, few studies have addressed their combined effects, and conclusions are ambivalent. Therefore, we examined the response in terms of seedling emergence and growth of herbaceous grassland and forest species to different litter types and amounts and the presence of competitors. We conducted a pot experiment testing the effects of litter type (grass, oak), litter amount (low, medium, high) and interspecific competition (presence or absence of four Festuca arundinacea individuals) on seedling emergence and biomass of four congeneric pairs of hemicryptophytes from two habitat types (woodland, grassland). Interactions between litter and competition were weak. Litter presence increased competitor biomass. It also had positive effects on seedling emergence at low litter amounts and negative effects at high litter amounts, while competition had no effect on seedling emergence. Seedling biomass was negatively affected by the presence of competitors, and this effect was stronger in combination with high amounts of litter. Litter affected seedling emergence while competition determined the biomass of the emerged individuals, both affecting early stages of seedling recruitment. High litter accumulation also reduced seedling biomass, but this effect seemed to be additive to competitor effects. This suggests that live and dead plant mass can affect species recruitment in natural systems, but the mechanisms by which they operate and their timing differ.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Negative and positive interactions among plants: effects of competitors and litter on seedling emergence and growth of forest and grassland species

et al. 2014

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“…However, effects of litter also depend on litter amount (Gross ; Wilsey & Polley ). Moderate litter amounts may support vegetation development by improving microsite conditions, that is, attenuating extremes in moisture and temperature (Fowler ; Jensen & Gutekunst ; Eckstein & Donath ; Deutsch, Bork & Willms ; Eckstein et al . ), and thus facilitating the performance of living vegetation (Brooker et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of litter on seedling establishment in natural and semi‐natural grasslands: a meta‐analysis

et al. 2012

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Summary1. Plant litter is a key component in terrestrial ecosystems. It plays a major role in nutrient cycles and community organization. Land use and climate change may change the accumulation of litter in herbaceous ecosystems and affect plant community dynamics. Additionally, the transfer of seeds containing plant material (i.e. litter) is a widespread technique in grassland restoration. 2. Ecosystem responses to litter represent the outcome of interactions, whose sign and strength will depend on many variables (e.g. litter amount, seed size). A previous meta-analysis (from 1999) reported that litter had an overall negative effect on seed germination and seedling establishment in different ecosystems. However, recent studies indicated that this might not be the case in grassland ecosystems. 3. We used 914 data from 46 independent studies to analyse the effects of litter on seedling (i) emergence, (ii) survival and (iii) biomass, employing meta-analytical techniques. Each data set was stratified according to methodology, grassland type, irrigation conditions, litter amount and seed size. 4. We found an overall neutral effect of litter presence on seedling emergence and survival and a positive effect on seedling biomass. However, whereas for field experiments the response remained neutral, it was positive for common garden studies. In glasshouse experiments, litter effects were negative for emergence and positive for biomass. 5. Litter may have a positive effect on seedling recruitment in dry grasslands or under water-limited conditions, or in the presence of low to medium litter amounts (< 500 g m À2 ). However, high litter amounts (> 500 g m À2 ) will inhibit seedling recruitment. Large seeds showed a more positive response to litter presence with respect to seedling emergence and survival, but not concerning biomass. 6. Synthesis. Under dry conditions (e.g. dry grasslands or dry periods) or with low to medium litter amounts, litter presence has a positive effect on seedling establishment. However, climate and land use change may promote litter accumulation and reduce seedling establishment, affecting grasslands composition and ecosystem functions.

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“…Litter accumulation can alter species composition (Amatangelo, Dukes, & Field, 2008;Letts, Lamb, Mischkolz, & Romo, 2015;Weltzin et al, 2005), decrease species richness and evenness (Amatangelo et al, 2008;Foster & Gross, 1998), and increase the cover of some species (Weltzin et al, 2005). Some studies report that litter accumulation increased community ANPP (Deutsch, Bork, & Willms, 2010a;Wang et al, 2011), but some studies found the opposite (Kelemen, Török, Valkó, Miglécz, & Tóthmérész, 2013). Some studies report that litter accumulation increased community ANPP (Deutsch, Bork, & Willms, 2010a;Wang et al, 2011), but some studies found the opposite (Kelemen, Török, Valkó, Miglécz, & Tóthmérész, 2013).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, litter accumulation may delay the freezing of soil in winter and thawing in spring (Facelli & Pickett, 1991a). Decreased soil temperature also indirectly improves soil moisture (Deutsch et al, 2010a). Litter can directly increase soil moisture by reducing water evaporation (Deutsch, Bork, & Willms, 2010b).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, litter accumulation can increase snow capture and retention in winter and soil moisture in early spring (Naeth & Chanasyk, 1995;Wikeem, Newman, & Ryswyk, 1989), but the interception effect of litter reduces infiltration by rainfall (Naeth, Bailey, Chanasyk, & Pluth, 1991). Previous studies in fenced grasslands failed to continuously measure abiotic factors (Deutsch et al, 2010a;Facelli & Pickett, 1991a;Wang et al, 2011), and little is known about the effects of continuous changes in abiotic factors at different stages of the growing season. Previous studies in fenced grasslands failed to continuously measure abiotic factors (Deutsch et al, 2010a;Facelli & Pickett, 1991a;Wang et al, 2011), and little is known about the effects of continuous changes in abiotic factors at different stages of the growing season.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Litter accumulation alters the abiotic environment and drives community successional changes in two fenced grasslands in Inner Mongolia

Hou

Changcheng

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Fencing is an effective and practical method for restoring degraded grasslands in northern China. However, little is known about the role of excess litter accumulation due to long‐term fencing in regulating abiotic environment and driving changes in community structure and function. We conducted a three‐year field experiment in two fenced grasslands in Inner Mongolia, and monitored light quantity, soil temperature, and soil moisture continuously, and determined community height, community aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP), and the relative dominance of different plant functional groups. Litter accumulation reduced light quantity and soil temperature but increased soil moisture. The regulating effects of litter accumulation on soil temperature and soil moisture fluctuated temporally and gradually weakened over the growing season. Litter accumulation also altered community vertical structure and function by increasing community height and ANPP. The increase in soil moisture increased the relative dominance of rhizome grasses but suppressed bunch grasses, thereby shifting bunch grass grasslands to rhizome grass grasslands. Our findings provide a potential mechanism for community succession in the context of litter accumulation in fenced grasslands and indicate that the vegetation and ecosystem services of degraded grasslands are improved after appropriate fencing.

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Separation of grassland litter and ecosite influences on seasonal soil moisture and plant growth dynamics

Cited by 44 publications

References 58 publications

Negative and positive interactions among plants: effects of competitors and litter on seedling emergence and growth of forest and grassland species

Negative and positive interactions among plants: effects of competitors and litter on seedling emergence and growth of forest and grassland species

Effects of litter on seedling establishment in natural and semi‐natural grasslands: a meta‐analysis

Litter accumulation alters the abiotic environment and drives community successional changes in two fenced grasslands in Inner Mongolia

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