Microbial Diversity Drives Decomposition More than Advantage of Home Environment-Evidence from a Manipulation Experiment with Leaf Litter.

ABSTRACT: Microbial diversity plays a crucial role in litter decomposition. However, the relationships between microbial diversity and substrate successional stage are the drivers of this decomposition. In this study, we experimentally manipulated microbial diversity and succession in post-mining soil. We used leaf litter samples from two forests of a post-mining site near Sokolov, Czech Republic: one alder plantation and one mixed forest with birch aspen and willow. Litter from each site was decomposed in the field for 3 and 12 months. The litter was X-ray sterilized and part of the litter was kept unsterilized to produce inoculum. Leaf litter samples of two different ages (3 and 12 months) from each site were each inoculated with litter of two different ages (3 and 12 months), using less and more

SUBMITTER: Ardestani MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11858187 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature