Litter standing crop and litterfall from ambient or increased soil nutrient plots in moist acidic tundra in northern Alaska, 2011

We conducted a decomposition study in three fertilization experiments in moist acidic tussock (MAT) tundra near Toolik Lake, Alaska that differed in duration. This study was designed to better understand the trajectory of decomposition over time when soil nutrients are increased. Results will help us make better predictions about changes in element cycling associated with warming in the Arctic. As part of this study, we quantified litter deposition in both control and fertilized plots begun in 1989 and 2006. We conducted two sampling events in June and September 2011 to quantify litter standing crop in June and litterfall during the growing season (June-September). We separated litter into leaf and woody components as well as to species when possible.