The effects of heating, rhizosphere, and depth on root litter decomposition are mediated by soil moisture

Castanha, Cristina; Zhu, Biao; Pries, Caitlin Hicks; Georgiou, Katerina; Torn, M. S.

doi:10.1007/s10533-017-0418-6

Cited by 23 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 55 publications

(71 reference statements)

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“…Six of the TMF sites could be considered subtropical (>15 degrees latitude), and one possible interaction is that during periods of cooler temperatures, rainfall is less likely to evaporate. The resultant higher soil moisture levels could influence decomposition rates (Castanha et al, 2018; Petraglia et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Litter decomposition rates across tropical montane and lowland forests are controlled foremost by climate

et al. 2021

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The “hierarchy of factors” hypothesis states that decomposition rates are controlled primarily by climatic, followed by biological and soil variables. Tropical montane forests (TMF) are globally important ecosystems, yet there have been limited efforts to provide a biome‐scale characterization of litter decomposition. We designed a common litter decomposition experiment replicated in 23 tropical montane sites across the Americas, Asia, and Africa and combined these results with a previous study of 23 sites in tropical lowland forests (TLF). Specifically, we investigated (1) spatial heterogeneity in decomposition, (2) the relative importance of biological factors that affect leaf and wood decomposition in TMF, and (3) the role of climate in determining leaf litter decomposition rates within and across the TMF and TLF biomes. Litterbags of two mesh sizes containing Laurus nobilis leaves or birchwood popsicle sticks were spatially dispersed and incubated in TMF sites, for 3 and 7 months on the soil surface and at 10–15 cm depth. The within‐site replication demonstrated spatial variability in mass loss. Within TMF, litter type was the predominant biological factor influencing decomposition (leaves > wood), with mesh and burial effects playing a minor role. When comparing across TMF and TLF, climate was the predominant control over decomposition, but the Yasso07 global model (based on mean annual temperature and precipitation) only modestly predicted decomposition rate. Differences in controlling factors between biomes suggest that TMF, with their high rates of carbon storage, must be explicitly considered when developing theory and models to elucidate carbon cycling rates in the tropics. Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Litter decomposition rates across tropical montane and lowland forests are controlled foremost by climate

et al. 2021

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“…eCO 2 effects on environmental conditions could also affect SOM decomposition. CO 2 -related increases in soil water (Section II.1) would probably stimulate decomposition in water-limited ecosystems (Castanha et al, 2018), but could reduce oxygen availability (slowing decomposition) in energylimited ecosystems. Microbial activity has also been linked to the formation of mineral-associated SOM (Cotrufo et al, 2013;Liang et al, 2017), and potentially soil aggregates (Ge et al, 2018), which might slow decomposition by restricting microbial access to SOM (Kögel-Knabner et al, 2008).…”

Section: Organic Matter Decompositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating the evidence for a terrestrial carbon sink caused by increasing atmospheric CO₂

et al. 2020

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Summary Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) is increasing, which increases leaf‐scale photosynthesis and intrinsic water‐use efficiency. These direct responses have the potential to increase plant growth, vegetation biomass, and soil organic matter; transferring carbon from the atmosphere into terrestrial ecosystems (a carbon sink). A substantial global terrestrial carbon sink would slow the rate of [CO2] increase and thus climate change. However, ecosystem CO2 responses are complex or confounded by concurrent changes in multiple agents of global change and evidence for a [CO2]‐driven terrestrial carbon sink can appear contradictory. Here we synthesize theory and broad, multidisciplinary evidence for the effects of increasing [CO2] (iCO2) on the global terrestrial carbon sink. Evidence suggests a substantial increase in global photosynthesis since pre‐industrial times. Established theory, supported by experiments, indicates that iCO2 is likely responsible for about half of the increase. Global carbon budgeting, atmospheric data, and forest inventories indicate a historical carbon sink, and these apparent iCO2 responses are high in comparison to experiments and predictions from theory. Plant mortality and soil carbon iCO2 responses are highly uncertain. In conclusion, a range of evidence supports a positive terrestrial carbon sink in response to iCO2, albeit with uncertain magnitude and strong suggestion of a role for additional agents of global change.

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“…On the one hand, living roots can enhance the decomposition of litter through the priming effects of their labile root exudates which stimulate microbial enzyme production 26 . On the other hand, roots can suppress litter decomposition by outcompeting microbes for soil moisture and nutrients or exuding labile organic compounds that microbes prefer to use over litter and thus suppress microbial production of enzymes for decomposition 27,28 . However, the net effect of living roots on root litter decomposition is still unclear, particularly in a scenario with multiple changing factors such as water, temperature and N availability, all of which can influence the growth of roots and microbes as well as their interaction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of global change factors and living roots on root litter decomposition in a Qinghai-Tibet alpine meadow

Shu

Zhao

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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Roots account for a major part of plant biomass in Tibetan alpine meadows. Understanding root decomposition with global change is key to predict carbon (C) and nutrient dynamics on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Yet, few experiments have carefully examined root decomposition as influenced by global change. We conducted a field study to investigate the effects of nitrogen (N) addition, air warming, precipitation change, and the presence/absence of living roots on root decomposition in a Tibetan alpine meadow. Our results showed that N addition increased the mass and C remaining, and induced N accumulation in the litter. Increased precipitation significantly amplified the positive effect of N addition on litter mass remaining. The presence of alive roots in the litterbags decreased root litter C remaining but significantly increased N and phosphorus remaining of the litter. However, we did not find any significant effects of air warming on the litter decomposition. In the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, N deposition is predicted to increase and precipitation regime is predicted to change. Our results suggest that the interaction between increased N and precipitation may reduce root decomposition in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the future, and that the large stock of living roots exert a dominant impact on nutrient dynamics of root decomposition in the Tibetan alpine systems.

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The effects of heating, rhizosphere, and depth on root litter decomposition are mediated by soil moisture

Cited by 23 publications

References 55 publications

Litter decomposition rates across tropical montane and lowland forests are controlled foremost by climate

Litter decomposition rates across tropical montane and lowland forests are controlled foremost by climate

Integrating the evidence for a terrestrial carbon sink caused by increasing atmospheric CO₂

Effects of global change factors and living roots on root litter decomposition in a Qinghai-Tibet alpine meadow

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The effects of heating, rhizosphere, and depth on root litter decomposition are mediated by soil moisture

Cited by 23 publications

References 55 publications

Litter decomposition rates across tropical montane and lowland forests are controlled foremost by climate

Litter decomposition rates across tropical montane and lowland forests are controlled foremost by climate

Integrating the evidence for a terrestrial carbon sink caused by increasing atmospheric CO2

Effects of global change factors and living roots on root litter decomposition in a Qinghai-Tibet alpine meadow

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Integrating the evidence for a terrestrial carbon sink caused by increasing atmospheric CO₂