Increasing rates of long-term nitrogen deposition consistently increased litter decomposition in a semi-arid grassland
© 2020 The Authors New Phytologist © 2020 New Phytologist Trust.
Veröffentlicht in: | The New phytologist. - 1979. - 229(2021), 1 vom: 19. Jan., Seite 296-307 |
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1. Verfasser: | |
Weitere Verfasser: | , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Online-Aufsatz |
Sprache: | English |
Veröffentlicht: |
2021
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Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk: | The New phytologist |
Schlagworte: | Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't community level litter quality manganese nitrogen addition soil C : N soil microbial community structure soil pH Soil mehr... |
Zusammenfassung: | © 2020 The Authors New Phytologist © 2020 New Phytologist Trust. The continuing nitrogen (N) deposition observed worldwide alters ecosystem nutrient cycling and ecosystem functioning. Litter decomposition is a key process contributing to these changes, but the numerous mechanisms for altered decomposition remain poorly identified. We assessed these different mechanisms with a decomposition experiment using litter from four abundant species (Achnatherum sibiricum, Agropyron cristatum, Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis) and litter mixtures representing treatment-specific community composition in a semi-arid grassland under long-term simulation of six different rates of N deposition. Decomposition increased consistently with increasing rates of N addition in all litter types. Higher soil manganese (Mn) availability, which apparently was a consequence of N addition-induced lower soil pH, was the most important factor for faster decomposition. Soil C : N ratios were lower with N addition that subsequently led to markedly higher bacterial to fungal ratios, which also stimulated litter decomposition. Several factors contributed jointly to higher rates of litter decomposition in response to N deposition. Shifts in plant species composition and litter quality played a minor role compared to N-driven reductions in soil pH and C : N, which increased soil Mn availability and altered microbial community structure. The soil-driven effect on decomposition reported here may have long-lasting impacts on nutrient cycling, soil organic matter dynamics and ecosystem functioning |
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Beschreibung: | Date Completed 14.05.2021 Date Revised 14.05.2021 published: Print-Electronic Citation Status MEDLINE |
ISSN: | 1469-8137 |
DOI: | 10.1111/nph.16854 |