Litter decomposition in European coniferous and broadleaf forests under experimentally elevated acidity and nitrogen addition

verfasst von

Michal Růžek, Karolina Tahovská, Georg Guggenberger, Filip Oulehle

Abstract

Background: Atmospheric sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) deposition has impacted many regions across the Northern Hemisphere inducing acidification and eutrophication of terrestrial ecosystems. However, acidification and eutrophication processes may differently impact litter decomposition and thus soil carbon (C) dynamics. Methods: We performed a field soil chemistry manipulation in two mountainous temperate forest stands (Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica) historically affected by acid (S and N) deposition. In each stand, four treatments were established: control, acid addition (H₂SO₄ – 50 kg S·ha^{− 1}·year^{− 1}), N addition (NH₄NO₃ – 50 kg N·ha^{− 1}·year^{− 1}) and their combination. In fourth year of manipulation, we established litter decomposition experiment. Litter bags of contrasting quality and origin (green tea, rooibos tea, spruce needles and beech leaves), in total 1536 samples, were buried below the organic layer and left to decompose up to 24 months. Retrieved samples were analysed for mass loss, C/N, and concentration of CuO oxidation lignin. Data were complemented by monitoring soil water pH and soil CO₂ efflux. Results: Acid additions decreased soil water pH, soil respiration and suppressed decomposition of the high-quality litter (green tea) in both stands, whereas mass loss of remaining litter was reduced only in the spruce stand. Nitrogen treatments, when coupled with decreasing soil water pH, constrained needle decomposition in the naturally more acidic spruce stand. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates a suppressing effect of soil acidity on decomposition processes and soil C dynamics. The effect of N addition, as a nutrient, was insignificant, likely because of previous ecosystem adaptation to historical N loadings.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Institut für Bodenkunde
AG Bodenchemie

Externe Organisation(en)

Charles University
Czech Geological Survey, Prague
University of South Bohemia
Global Change Research Institute – CzechGlobe

Typ

Artikel

Journal

Plant and soil

Band

463

Seiten

471-485

Anzahl der Seiten

15

ISSN

0032-079X

Publikationsdatum

06.2021

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Bodenkunde, Pflanzenkunde

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 15 – Lebensraum Land

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-04926-9 (Zugang: Geschlossen)