Home-field advantages of litter decomposition increase with increasing N deposition rates: a litter and soil perspective

1. Differences in litter quality and in soil microbial community composition can influence the litter decomposition and “home-field advantage” (HFA). However, our knowledge about the relative role of litter and soil characteristics on litter decomposition and HFA effects is still limited, especially under long-term N deposition. 2. We collected soil and two types of litter (monospecific and mixed species litter) from five replicate plots from a long-term N-deposition field experiment with seven N-addition treatments (0, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 50 g N m-2 yr-1). We examined the effects of N-addition on litter quality and soil characteristics. We then carried out a three-pronged microcosm decomposition experiment with (i) litter from different N-addition treatments decomposed on a standard field soil; (ii) standard litter decomposed on soils from the different N-addition treatments; and (iii) litter decomposed on soil from the same N-addition treatment plot. 3. Decomposition of litter on standa...