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Long-term decomposition dynamics of broadleaf litters across a climatic gradient on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

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Abstract

Background and aims

Most litter decomposition experiments are early term (less than three years) studies. Unfortunately, early and late terms have different decomposition rates due to different chemical compositions and climatic conditions. Therefore, long-term (more than 5 years) experiments are needed to improve our understanding of decomposition dynamics and unique impacts of different litters.

Methods

A 90-month field trial was conducted using a litterbag methodology employing 330 litter samples from four tree species along a climatic gradient in Gongga Mountain, on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. The remaining litter mass (%) was fitted, and models were evaluated using R2 and Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). Decomposition rates of litters from the same site and climatic gradient were compared based on application of the optimization model.

Results

The dual negative exponential function (DNEF) model of each litter had the highest R2 and lowest AIC value of the different models tested. The decomposition rate of all litters at 2250m was higher than that at 3000m. P. purdomii and B.utilis had higher decomposition rates compared to R. faberi and L.cleistocarpus.

Conclusions

The DNEF model best described the long-term decomposition pattern of the different litters and temperature was the controlling factor of decomposition along an elevation gradient on Gongga Mountain. Higher decomposition rates of P. purdomii and B.utilis were related to their deciduous traits and lower initial C:N.

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Acknowledgements

This present work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2017YFC0504900), the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang province (LQ20D010003), the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Prgram (STEP, No. 2019QZKK0307), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41771062, 41473078, 41471416, 417710626), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC0503305) and the State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University (2034020087, ZY20180301 and ZY20180205).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China

    Ronggui Tang & Yanjiang Cai

  2. Key Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences & Ministry of Water Conservancy, Chengdu, 610049, China

    Ronggui Tang, Shouqin Sun & Ji Luo

  3. College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, 97331, USA

    Thomas H. DeLuca

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  1. Ronggui Tang
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Correspondence to Yanjiang Cai or Ji Luo.

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Tang, R., DeLuca, T.H., Cai, Y. et al. Long-term decomposition dynamics of broadleaf litters across a climatic gradient on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. Plant Soil 465, 403–414 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05018-4

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