Mass loss and nutrient release during the decomposition of sixteen types of plant litter with contrasting quality under three precipitation regimes.

ABSTRACT: Mass loss and nutrient release during litter decomposition drive biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the relationship between the litter decomposition process and the decomposition stage, precipitation, and litter quality has rarely been addressed, precluding our understanding of how litter decomposition regulates nutrient cycling in various ecosystems and their responses to climate change. In this study, we measured mass loss as well as carbon and nutrient releases during the decomposition of 16 types of leaf litter under three precipitation treatments over 12 months in a common garden experiment (i.e., using standardized soil and climatic conditions). Sixteen types of leaves were divided into three functional groups (evergreen, deciduous, and herbaceous). The objec

SUBMITTER: Du N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7141022 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature