Effects of reduced precipitation on litter decomposition in an evergreen broad-leaved forest in western China

Author links open overlay panelShixing Zhouab Congde Huanga Yuanbin Xianga LiehuaTiea Bohan Hana Stefan Scheubc

a College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China

b J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen 37073, Germany

c Center of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, University of Göttingen, Göttingen 37073, Germany

Received 3 May 2018, Revised 6 August 2018, Accepted 11 August 2018, Available online 16 August 2018.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327078967

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.08.022 

Highlights

•A rainy area of western China experienced a remarkable decrease in precipitation.

• •Throughfall reduction significantly reduced litter decomposition.

• •P is more deficient than N and an important control of decomposition under dryer conditions.

• •Litter decomposition primarily were limited by moisture rather than P.

• •With future decrease in precipitation, P limitation may be aggravated during litter decomposition.

Abstract

Litter decomposition is a fundamental process of biogeochemical cycles and plays a critical role in regulating carbon (C) and nutrient mineralization in terrestrial ecosystems. Examining responses of litter decomposition to altered precipitation is crucial to understand terrestrial C dynamics and its feedback to climate change. To understand the effects of reduced precipitation on litter decomposition, a two-year throughfall reduction experiment was carried out in a natural evergreen broad-leaved forest in western China. Five throughfall reduction levels were investigated: control without throughfall reduction (Ctr), 5% (W1), 10% (W2), 20% (W3) and 50% throughfall reduction (W4). Throughfall reduction significantly reduced soil moisture, which was most pronounced in W3 and W4 treatments, and this was associated by significantly reduced cumulative litter mass loss and lower decomposition constants. Also, throughfall reduction significantly altered litter C, N and P dynamics. In particular in W2, W3 and W4 treatments the release of C and N was significantly reduced, whereas in W2 and W3 the immobilization of P was increased. Overall, the results suggest that future decrease in precipitation will suppress litter decomposition, whereas microbial P limitation in litter may be aggravated in broad-leaved forest ecosystems.

Keywords

Litter mass loss; Climate change; Throughfall reduction; Drought; k value; Litter quality