Decomposition characteristics of leaf litters and roots of six main plant species and their relationships with functional traits in Stipa grandis steppe

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2020.0268

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims It is very important to investigate the relationships between litter decomposition characteristics and plant functional traits in understanding the maintenance mechanism of ecosystem functions.

Methods In order to study the main driving factors that affect the leaf litters and root decomposition of different species, this study took the leaf litters and roots of six main plant species Stipa grandis, Cleistogenes squarrosa, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Leymus chinensis, Convolvulus ammannii and Carex korshinskyi in S. grandis steppe. The litter bag method was used to study the decomposition rate constant of both leaf litters and root through 501 days of field incubation. Plant functional traits including leaf dry matter content, root specific surface area, root tissue density, contents of C, N and different cellulose components of the leaf and root litters were determined and the relationships between decomposition characteristics and functional traits of leaf litters and root across six plant species were examined.

Important findingsThe results showed that there were significant interspecific differences in leaf and root traits of six plant species. The ratios of maximum to minimum values for most traits were between 1 and 2, while the difference in some traits, such as C:N and specific surface area of roots between species was nearly 4 times. For the six plant species, the overall trend of the mass residue and decomposition rate constant of the leaf litter and root during 501 days of decomposition all showed the rapid decomposition in the early stage, relatively slow decomposition in the middle stage and the slowest decomposition in the later stage. During the decomposition process of leaf litters and roots, Cleistogenes squarrosa showed the slowest one, while the leaf litter decomposition of Anemarrhena asphodeloides was the fastest, and the root decomposition of Convolvulus ammannii was the fastest. Through the correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis, it was found that the decomposition process of leaf litters and roots was affected by different traits in different decomposition periods. The structural carbohydrate content was the main factor affecting the early and late decomposition of litters and the early decomposition of roots, while the non-structural carbohydrate content was the main factor affecting the middle and late decomposition of roots. In addition, the decomposition rate of leaf litters in the middle stage of decomposition was mainly affected by leaf dry matter content, while the decomposition rates of roots in the middle and late stages of decomposition were also significantly affected by C:N and N content, respectively. Our results present the important guide for the prediction of carbon and nutrient cycling process in the S. grandis steppe.

Key words: Stipa grandis steppe, litter, plant functional trait, decomposition rate

ZHU Wei-Na, ZHANG Guo-Long, ZHANG Pu-Jin, ZHANG Qian-Qian, REN Jin-Tao, XU Bu-Yun, QING Hua. Decomposition characteristics of leaf litters and roots of six main plant species and their relationships with functional traits in Stipa grandis steppe[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2021, 45(6): 606-616.

Add to citation manager EndNote|Ris|BibTeX

URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2020.0268

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2021/V45/I6/606

Figures/Tables 7

References 50

[1]	Balasubramanian D, Arunachalam K, Das AK, Arunachalam A (2012). Decomposition and nutrient release of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms. under different trophic conditions in wetlands of eastern Himalayan foothills. Ecological Engineering, 44, 111-122. DOI URL
[2]	Bardgett RD, Mommer L, de Vries FT (2014). Going underground: root traits as drivers of ecosystem processes. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 29, 692-699. DOI URL
[3]	Bardgett RD, Shine A (1999). Linkages between plant litter diversity, soil microbial biomass and ecosystem function in temperate grasslands. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 31, 317-321. DOI URL
[4]	Cebrian J (1999). Patterns in the fate of production in plant communities. The American Naturalist, 154, 449-468. DOI PMID
[5]	Clemmensen KE, Bahr A, Ovaskainen O, Dahlberg A, Ekblad A, Wallander H, Stenlid J, Finlay RD, Wardle DA, Lindahl BD (2013). Roots and associated fungi drive long-term carbon sequestration in boreal forest. Science, 339, 1615-1618. DOI PMID
[6]	Cornelissen JHC, Castro-Díez P, Carnelli AL (1998). Variation in relative growth rate among woody species//Lambers H, Poorter H, van Vuuren MMI. Inherent Variation in Plant Growth: Physiological Mechanisms and Ecological Consequences. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, the Netherlands. 363-392.
[7]	Cornelissen JHC, Thompson K (1997). Functional leaf attributes predict litter decomposition rate in herbaceous plants. New Phytologist, 135, 109-114. DOI PMID
[8]	Cornwell WK, Cornelissen JHC, Amatangelo K, Dorrepaal E, Eviner VT, Godoy O, Hobbie SE, Hoorens B, Kurokawa H, Pérez-Harguindeguy N, Quested HM, Santiago LS, Wardle DA, Wright IJ, Aerts R, et al. (2008). Plant species traits are the predominant control on litter decomposition rates within biomes worldwide. Ecology Letters, 11, 1065-1071. DOI PMID
[9]	Cusack DF, Chou WW, Yang WH, Harmon ME, Silver WL, Team TL (2009). Controls on long-term root and leaf litter decomposition in neotropical forests. Global Change Biology, 15, 1339-1355. DOI URL
[10]	Díaz S, Cabido M (2001). Vive la différence: plant functional diversity matters to ecosystem processes. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 16, 646-655. DOI URL
[11]	Freschet GT, Cornwell WK, Wardle DA, Elumeeva TG, Liu W, Jackson BG, Onipchenko VG, Soudzilovskaia NA, Tao J, Cornelissen JHC (2013). Linking litter decomposition of above- and below-ground organs to plant-soil feedbacks worldwide. Journal of Ecology, 101, 943-952. DOI URL
[12]	García-Palacios P, Prieto I, Ourcival JM, Hättenschwiler S (2016). Disentangling the litter quality and soil microbial contribution to leaf and fine root litter decomposition responses to reduced rainfall. Ecosystems, 19, 490-503. DOI URL
[13]	Gessner MO, Swan CM, Dang CK, McKie BG, Bardgett RD, Wall DH, Hättenschwiler S (2010). Diversity meets decomposition. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 25, 372-380. DOI URL
[14]	Huangfu CH, Wei ZS (2018). Nitrogen addition drives convergence of leaf litter decomposition rates between Flaveria bidentis and native plant. Plant Ecology, 219, 1355-1368. DOI URL
[15]	Jia BR(2019). Litter decomposition and its underlying mechanisms. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 43, 648-657. DOI URL
	[ 贾丙瑞(2019). 凋落物分解及其影响机制. 植物生态学报, 43, 648-657.]
[16]	Jiang L, Kou L, Li SG (2018). Alterations of early-stage decomposition of leaves and absorptive roots by deposition of nitrogen and phosphorus have contrasting mechanisms. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 127, 213-222. DOI URL
[17]	Kazakou E, Vile D, Shipley B, Gallet C, Garnier E (2006). Blackwell Publishing Ltd Co-variations in litter decomposition, leaf traits and plant growth in species from a Mediterranean old-field succession. Functional Ecology, 20, 21-30.
[18]	Lan Y, Cui BS, You ZY, Li X, Han Z, Zhang YT, Zhang Y (2012). Litter decomposition of six macrophytes in a eutrophic shallow lake (Baiyangdian Lake, China). Clean—Soil, Air, Water, 40, 1159-1166. DOI URL
[19]	Langley JA, Hungate BA (2003). Mycorrhizal controls on belowground litter quality. Ecology, 84, 2302-2312. DOI URL
[20]	Li GH(2010). Effect of organic amendments and chemical fertilizer on soil microbial activity, biomass and community structure. Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin, 26(14), 204-208.
	[ 李桂花(2010). 不同施肥对土壤微生物活性、群落结构和生物量的影响. 中国农学通报, 26(14), 204-208.]
[21]	Li X, Cui BS, Yang QC, Lan Y, Wang TT, Han Z (2012). Litter quality and interactions of macrophytes tissues decomposition in a eutrophic shallow lake. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 13, 1170-1178. DOI URL
[22]	Li YL, Meng QT, Zhao XY, Cui JY(2008). Relationships of fresh leaf traits and leaf litter decomposition in Kerqin sandy land. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 28, 2486-2494. DOI URL
	[ 李玉霖, 孟庆涛, 赵学勇, 崔建垣(2008). 科尔沁沙地植物成熟叶片性状与叶凋落物分解的关系. 生态学报, 28, 2486-2494.]
[23]	Liu P, Huang JH, Han XG, Sun OJ (2009). Litter decomposition in semiarid grassland of Inner Mongolia, China. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 62, 305-313. DOI URL
[24]	Liu X, Xiong YM, Liao BW (2017). Relative contributions of leaf litter and fine roots to soil organic matter accumulation in mangrove forests. Plant and Soil, 421, 493-503. DOI URL
[25]	Ma CE, Xiong YM, Li L, Guo DL (2016). Root and leaf decomposition become decoupled over time: implications for below- and above-ground relationships. Functional Ecology, 30, 1239-1246. DOI URL
[26]	Meier CL, Bowman WD (2008a). Links between plant litter chemistry, species diversity, and below-ground ecosystem function. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105,19780-19785.
[27]	Meier CL, Bowman WD (2008b). Phenolic-rich leaf carbon fractions differentially influence microbial respiration and plant growth. Oecologia, 158, 95-107. DOI URL
[28]	Meng YY, Zhang LM, Yuan YS, Jia X, Cheng H, Huangfu CH(2021). Effects of soil moisture content and litter quality on decomposition of Carex thunbergii fine roots and leaf litter. Research of Environmental Sciences, 34, 707-714.
	[ 孟盈盈, 张黎明, 远勇帅, 贾璇, 程桦, 皇甫超河(2021). 土壤水分含量和凋落物特性对陌上菅细根和叶片凋落物分解的影响. 环境科学研究, 34, 707-714.]
[29]	OʼLear HA, Seastedt TR (1994). Landscape patterns of litter decomposition in alpine tundra. Oecologia, 99, 95-101. DOI URL
[30]	Olson JS (1963). Energy storage and the balance of producers and decomposers in ecological systems. Ecology, 44, 322-331. DOI URL
[31]	Petraglia A, Cacciatori C, Chelli S, Fenu G, Calderisi G, Gargano D, Abeli T, Orsenigo S, Carbognani M (2019). Litter decomposition: effects of temperature driven by soil moisture and vegetation type. Plant and Soil, 435, 187-200. DOI URL
[32]	Shi Y, Wen ZM, Gong SH(2011). Comparisons of relationships between leaf and fine root traits in hilly area of the Loess Plateau, Yanhe River basin, Shaanxi Province, China. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 31, 6805-6814.
	[ 施宇, 温仲明, 龚时慧(2011). 黄土丘陵区植物叶片与细根功能性状关系及其变化. 生态学报, 31, 6805-6814.]
[33]	Silver WL, Miya RK (2001). Global patterns in root decomposition: comparisons of climate and litter quality effects. Oecologia, 129, 407-419. DOI URL
[34]	Stoler AB, Burke DJ, Relyea RA (2016). Litter chemistry and chemical diversity drive ecosystem processes in forest ponds. Ecology, 97, 1783-1795. DOI PMID
[35]	Sun T, Dong LL, Wang ZW, Lü X, Mao ZJ (2016). Effects of long-term nitrogen deposition on fine root decomposition and its extracellular enzyme activities in temperate forests. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 93, 50-59. DOI URL
[36]	Sun T, Hobbie SE, Berg B, Zhang H, Wang Q, Wang Z, Hättenschwiler S (2018). Contrasting dynamics and trait controls in first-order root compared with leaf litter decomposition. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 115, 10392-10397.
[37]	Sun T, Mao ZJ, Han YY (2013). Slow decomposition of very fine roots and some factors controlling the process: a 4-year experiment in four temperate tree species. Plant and Soil, 372, 445-458. DOI URL
[38]	van Soest PJ (1963). Use of detergents in the analysis of fibrous feeds. II. A rapid method for the determination of fiber and lignin. Journal of Association of Official Agricultural Chemists, 46, 829-835.
[39]	Violle C, Navas ML, Vile D, Kazakou E, Fortunel C, Hummel I, Garnier E (2007). Let the concept of trait be functional! Oikos, 116, 882-892. DOI URL
[40]	Wang J, Liu LL, Wang X, Yang S, Zhang BB, Li P, Qiao CL, Deng MF, Liu WX (2017a). High night-time humidity and dissolved organic carbon content support rapid decomposition of standing litter in a semi-arid landscape. Functional Ecology, 31, 1659-1668. DOI URL
[41]	Wang J, Yang S, Zhang BB, Liu WX, Deng MF, Chen SP, Liu LL (2017b). Temporal dynamics of ultraviolet radiation impacts on litter decomposition in a semi-arid ecosystem. Plant and Soil, 419, 71-81. DOI URL
[42]	Wang X, Xu ZW, Lü XT, Wang RZ, Cai JP, Yang S, Li MH, Jiang Y (2017c). Responses of litter decomposition and nutrient release rate to water and nitrogen addition differed among three plant species dominated in a semi-arid grassland. Plant and Soil, 418, 241-253. DOI URL
[43]	Weedon JT, Cornwell WK, Cornelissen JHC, Zanne AE, Wirth C, Coomes DA (2009). Global meta-analysis of wood decomposition rates: a role for trait variation among tree species? Ecology Letters, 12, 45-56. DOI PMID
[44]	Wirth C, Lichstein JW (2009). The imprint of species turnover on old-growth forest carbon balances—Insights from a trait-based model of forest dynamics//Wirth C, Gleixner G, Heimann M. Old-Growth Forests . Springer, Berlin. 81-113.
[45]	Xiong YM, Fan PP, Fu SL, Zeng H, Guo DL (2013). Slow decomposition and limited nitrogen release by lower order roots in eight Chinese temperate and subtropical trees. Plant and Soil, 363, 19-31. DOI URL
[46]	Yang ZM, Hasitamier, Liu XM(2016). Effects of grazing on the composition of soil animals and their decomposition function to Stipa grandis litter in Inner Mongolia typical steppe, China. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 27, 2864-2874. DOI PMID
	[ 杨志敏, 哈斯塔米尔, 刘新民(2016). 放牧对内蒙古典型草原大针茅凋落物中土壤动物组成及其分解功能的影响. 应用生态学报, 27, 2864-2874.] PMID
[47]	Zanne AE, Oberle B, Dunham KM, Milo AM, Walton ML, Young DF (2015). A deteriorating state of affairs: How endogenous and exogenous factors determine plant decay rates. Journal of Ecology, 103, 1421-1431. DOI URL
[48]	Zhao HM, Huang G, Ma J, Li Y, Tang LS (2014). Decomposition of aboveground and root litter for three desert herbs: mass loss and dynamics of mineral nutrients. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 50, 745-753. DOI URL
[49]	Zhou SX, Huang CD, Xiang YB, Han BH, Xiao YX, Tang JD(2016). Effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on lignin and cellulose degradation of foliar litter in natural evergreen broad-leaved forest in Rainy Area of Western China. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 27, 1368-1374.
	[ 周世兴, 黄从德, 向元彬, 韩博涵, 肖永翔, 唐剑东(2016). 模拟氮沉降对华西雨屏区天然常绿阔叶林凋落物木质素和纤维素降解的影响. 应用生态学报, 27, 1368-1374.]
[50]	Zhou X, He Z, Ding F, Li L, Stoffella PJ (2018). Biomass decaying and elemental release of aquatic macrophyte detritus in waterways of the Indian River Lagoon basin, South Florida, USA. Science of the Total Environment, 635, 878-891. DOI URL

分解时间段 Decomposition period (d)	凋落物类型 Litter type	模型 Model	r	调整后的R² Adjusted R²	F	显著性 Significance	赤池信息准则值 AICc
0-104	叶 Leaf	k_L = 4.336 - 0.116X₆	0.907	0.812	74.639	<0.001	1.213 0
		k_L = 5.448 - 0.140X₆ - 0.057X₇	0.945	0.878	62.069	<0.001	-4.300 6
		k_L = 4.968 - 0.149X₆ - 0.055X₇ + 0.19X₅	0.962	0.910	58.202	<0.001	-7.094 9
	根 Root	k_R = 2.411 - 0.055X₆	0.826	0.663	34.410	<0.001	4.521 8
		k_R = 3.118 - 0.06X₆ - 0.041X₇	0.946	0.881	64.217	<0.001	6.992 0
		k_R = 3.937 - 0.056X₆ - 0.046X₇ - 0.019X₁	0.976	0.942	92.731	<0.001	-22.226 0
105-223	叶 Leaf	k_L = 1.131 - 0.020X₉	0.750	0.536	20.607	<0.001	-11.592 8
	根 Root	k_R = 0.131 + 0.014X₄	0.767	0.563	22.863	<0.001	-19.749 6
	根 Root	k_R = -0.069 + 0.012X₄ + 0.006X₃	0.905	0.795	34.016	<0.001	-31.214 4
224-501	叶 Leaf	k_L = 0.15 + 0.027X₇	0.695	0.451	14.985	0.001	-34.327 3
	叶 Leaf	k_L = -0.272 + 0.03X₇ + 0.008X₆	0.777	0.551	11.440	0.001	-31.549 6
	根 Root	k_R = 0.071 + 0.04X₄	0.679	0.427	13.685	0.002	-58.761 2
		k_R = 0.120 + 0.004X₄ - 0.047X₂	0.846	0.678	18.867	<0.001	-23.870 1
		k_R = 0.406 + 0.001X₄ - 0.106X₂ - 0.001X₁₀	0.899	0.768	19.751	<0.001	-70.138 3
0-501	叶 Leaf	k_L = -1.059 - 0.023X₆	0.874	0.749	51.631	<0.001	-51.201 6
		k_L = -1.050 - 0.029X₆ + 0.005X₉	0.924	0.835	43.920	<0.001	-56.544 5
		k_L = -1.407 - 0.044X₆ + 0.01X₉ - 0.019X₇	0.960	0.904	54.266	<0.001	-63.616 2
	根 Root	k_R = 0.119 + 0.012X₄	0.944	0.885	131.926	<0.001	-58.386 3
	根 Root	k_R = 0.212 + 0.012X₄ - 0.137X₁₁	0.960	0.911	88.248	<0.001	-60.832 1

分解时间段 Decomposition period (d)	凋落物类型 Litter type	模型 Model	r	调整后的R² Adjusted R²	F	显著性 Significance	赤池信息准则值 AICc
0-104	叶 Leaf	k_L = 4.336 - 0.116X₆	0.907	0.812	74.639	<0.001	1.213 0
		k_L = 5.448 - 0.140X₆ - 0.057X₇	0.945	0.878	62.069	<0.001	-4.300 6
		k_L = 4.968 - 0.149X₆ - 0.055X₇ + 0.19X₅	0.962	0.910	58.202	<0.001	-7.094 9
	根 Root	k_R = 2.411 - 0.055X₆	0.826	0.663	34.410	<0.001	4.521 8
		k_R = 3.118 - 0.06X₆ - 0.041X₇	0.946	0.881	64.217	<0.001	6.992 0
		k_R = 3.937 - 0.056X₆ - 0.046X₇ - 0.019X₁	0.976	0.942	92.731	<0.001	-22.226 0
105-223	叶 Leaf	k_L = 1.131 - 0.020X₉	0.750	0.536	20.607	<0.001	-11.592 8
	根 Root	k_R = 0.131 + 0.014X₄	0.767	0.563	22.863	<0.001	-19.749 6
	根 Root	k_R = -0.069 + 0.012X₄ + 0.006X₃	0.905	0.795	34.016	<0.001	-31.214 4
224-501	叶 Leaf	k_L = 0.15 + 0.027X₇	0.695	0.451	14.985	0.001	-34.327 3
	叶 Leaf	k_L = -0.272 + 0.03X₇ + 0.008X₆	0.777	0.551	11.440	0.001	-31.549 6
	根 Root	k_R = 0.071 + 0.04X₄	0.679	0.427	13.685	0.002	-58.761 2
		k_R = 0.120 + 0.004X₄ - 0.047X₂	0.846	0.678	18.867	<0.001	-23.870 1
		k_R = 0.406 + 0.001X₄ - 0.106X₂ - 0.001X₁₀	0.899	0.768	19.751	<0.001	-70.138 3
0-501	叶 Leaf	k_L = -1.059 - 0.023X₆	0.874	0.749	51.631	<0.001	-51.201 6
		k_L = -1.050 - 0.029X₆ + 0.005X₉	0.924	0.835	43.920	<0.001	-56.544 5
		k_L = -1.407 - 0.044X₆ + 0.01X₉ - 0.019X₇	0.960	0.904	54.266	<0.001	-63.616 2
	根 Root	k_R = 0.119 + 0.012X₄	0.944	0.885	131.926	<0.001	-58.386 3
	根 Root	k_R = 0.212 + 0.012X₄ - 0.137X₁₁	0.960	0.911	88.248	<0.001	-60.832 1