Litter decomposition and nutrient release from monospecific and mixed litters: comparisons of litter quality, fauna and decomposition sites effects

Litter decomposition and nutrient release are key processes for soil C and nutrient cycling. However, the relative importance of the effects of litter quality, fauna and decomposition sites on litter decomposition remains poorly understood. Moreover, the macronutrient and micronutrient (C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu and Zn) release in the decomposition process are even less well-known.
In this study, we performed 5040 litterbag samplings of monospecific (Larix gmelinii, Acer mono, Quercus mongolica, and Juglans mandshurica) and mixed (Larix with each broad-leaved litter) litter treatments using litterbags with three mesh sizes (for different-sized fauna) in four paired stands of natural secondary forests compared with adjacent Larix plantations in a temperate forest ecosystem in China. Litter decomposition rate and macronutrient and micronutrient release during decomposition were assessed.
We found that variation in litter quality had a considerably greater effect on litter decomposition...

枯落物分解与养分释放是土壤碳循环与养分循环的核心过程。然而，枯落物质量、土壤动物及分解位点对枯落物分解的影响的相对重要性，目前仍未得到充分阐明。此外，分解过程中大量元素与微量元素（碳、氮、磷、钾、钙、镁、锰、铜、锌）的释放规律，更是鲜有研究。
本研究在中国温带森林生态系统内，设置四组天然次生林与相邻落叶松人工林的配对林分，采用三种孔径（适配不同体型土壤动物）的凋落袋，针对单物种枯落物（Larix gmelinii、Acer mono、Quercus mongolica及Juglans mandshurica）以及混合枯落物（兴安落叶松与各阔叶枯落物组合）开展处理，共完成5040次凋落袋采样，并对枯落物分解速率及分解过程中的大量与微量元素释放特征进行了测定分析。
研究发现，枯落物质量的变异对枯落物分解的影响显著更大……