Effects of long-term litter removal on soil organic carbon and multiple components in subtropical Cunninghamia lanceolata forest

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2023.0291

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Leaf litter and root input are two major resource of soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation. Quantifying the effects of leaf litter and root removal on SOC pool and its multiple components has implication for understanding the mechanisms of SOC stabilization in forest ecosystem.

Methods Based on a long-term (12 years) litter removal experiment including control (CK), leaf litter removal (NL), root removal (NR), and both leaf litter and root removal (NLR) that conducted in Hunan Huitong Forest Ecosystem National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, we compared the relative importance of leaf litter and root removal on multiple components of SOC pool in a subtropical Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation in different season.

Important findings Although leaf litter and root removal both reduced SOC content, the relative contribution of leaf litter and root removal on multiple SOC components were different. Specifically, the NL reduced more SOC, soil mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC), heavy fraction organic carbon (HFOC) and readily oxidizable carbon (ROC) contents than NR and NLR. While, the NR decreased more soil particulate organic carbon (POC) content than NL and NR. In contrast, the NLR had more negative effect on light fraction organic carbon (LFOC) content than other two treatments. Correlation analysis and redundancy analysis showed that SOC components contents were positively correlated with soil total nitrogen content and carbon to nitrogen ratio. Besides, seasonal variability had significant effects on POC, LFOC contents, and their contribution of multiple carbon components to SOC. Moreover, the correlation between SOC component contents and total phosphorus content and carbon to phosphorus ratio was enhanced in winter compared with summer. Taken together, our study provides new evidence for the long-term effects of long-term litter removal on SOC and its multiple components in Chinese fir plantation, which has implications for predicting the response and feedback of SOC accumulation to global changes.

Key words: leaf litter removal, root removal, soil organic carbon, carbon component, seasonal variability, Chinese fir plantation

PENG Si-Rui, ZHANG Hui-Ling, SUN Zhao-Lin, ZHAO Xue-Chao, TIAN Peng, CHEN Di-Ma, WANG Qing-Kui, LIU Sheng-En. Effects of long-term litter removal on soil organic carbon and multiple components in subtropical Cunninghamia lanceolata forest[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2024, 48(8): 1078-1088.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2023.0291

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2024/V48/I8/1078

Figures/Tables 6

Table 1 Description of the litter removal treatment at the Huitong Cunninghamia lanceolata forest

处理 Treatment	描述 Description
对照 Control (CK)	不做任何处理, 保留凋落物原始状态输入 Retain the original litter input without any processing
凋落叶去除 Leaf litter removal (NL)	首先彻底清除地上凋落物, 之后在实验小区边缘及中心插入9根PVC管露出地面0.5 m, 在其上放置孔径为1 mm的筛网用以阻绝凋落枝叶, 每月清理筛网 The original aboveground litter was carefully removed at the beginning, and then 9 PVC pipes were inserted at the edge and center of the experimental plot to expose 0.5 m to the ground, and a screen with an aperture of 1 mm was placed on it to prevent the falling litter. The screen was cleaned monthly
根系去除 Root removal (NR)	在实验小区四周挖60 cm的深沟, 之后插入0.35 mm厚的聚乙烯板以防止其他根部生长到实验小区内 Trenching the perimeter to 60 cm, inserting a 0.35 mm-thick polyethylene sheet along the bottom and sides of the trench to prevent other roots from growing into the experimental plot
凋落叶和根系同时去除 Leaf litter and root removal (NLR)	NL和NR处理组合, 凋落叶和根系输入均去除 NL and NR treatments were combined to remove both leaf litter and root input

Table 2 Effects of litter removal on soil properties in different seasons in subtropical Cunninghamia lanceolata forest (mean土SE)

Fig. 1 Multi-factor analysis reveal the effect of litter removal on soil organic carbon and multiple components in different seasons in subtropical Cunninghamia lanceolata forest (mean ± SE). Different lowercase or uppercase letters indicate significant differences between different treatments in summer or winter (p < 0.05). *, p <0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001. CK, control; NL, leaf litter removal; NLR, leaf litter and root removal; NR, root removal.

Table 3 Multi-factor analysis of variance reveal the effect of litter removal on ratios of carbon components to soil organic carbon in subtropical Cunninghamia lanceolata forest (mean ± SE)

季节 Season	处理 Treatment	HFOC (%)	LFOC (%)	POC (%)	MAOC (%)	ROC (%)	NROC (%)	DOC (%)	MBC (%)
夏季 Summer	CK	87.0 ± 0.2^b	13.0 ± 0.2^b	18.2 ± 1.1^ab	81.8 ± 1.1^ab	27.4 ± 0.8^b	72.6 ± 0.8^a	1.6 ± 0.0^a	0.5 ± 0.2^a
	NL	84.8 ± 0.2^c	15.2 ± 0.2^a	20.4 ± 0.7^a	79.6 ± 0.7^b	29.0 ± 0.7^b	71.0 ± 0.7^a	1.8 ± 0.1^a	0.8 ± 0.2^a
	NR	88.4 ± 0.6^ab	11.6 ± 0.6^bc	15.6 ± 0.7^b	84.4 ± 0.7^a	47.3 ± 3.5^a	52.7 ± 3.5^b	1.8 ± 0.0^a	0.7 ± 0.2^a
	NLR	90.0 ± 1.1^a	9.9 ± 1.1^c	18.3 ± 0.7^a	81.7 ± 0.7^b	38.0 ± 5.9^a	56.0 ± 2.4^b	1.7 ± 0.1^a	0.9 ± 0.2^a
冬季 Winter	CK	89.5 ± 0.8^A	10.5 ± 0.8^A	15.2 ± 0.8^A	84.8 ± 0.8^B	38.2 ± 2.8^A	56.0 ± 4.9^B	1.7 ± 0.0^A	1.2 ± 0.0^A
	NL	90.0 ± 0.7^A	10.0 ± 0.7^A	15.5 ± 0.8^A	84.5 ± 0.8^B	27.8 ± 4.0^B	66.8 ± 2.3^A	1.9 ± 0.0^A	1.4 ± 0.3^A
	NR	91.2 ± 0.5^A	8.7 ± 0.5^A	11.8 ± 0.2^B	88.2 ± 0.2^A	26.2 ± 0.2^B	71.9 ± 1.8^A	1.7 ± 0.0^A	1.0 ± 0.1^A
	NLR	91.5 ± 0.8^A	8.4 ± 0.8^A	15.9 ± 0.9^A	84.1 ± 0.9^B	33.3 ± 0.7^AB	63.8 ± 0.7^A	1.6 ± 0.2^A	1.2 ± 0.6^A
NL				***	**
NR		***	***	**	**	**	**
Season		**	**	***	***				*
NLR								*
NL × Season
NR × Season						***	**
NLR × Season		*	*			**	**

Fig. 2 Pearsonʼs correlations between soil organic carbon fractions and soil properties in different seasons in subtropical Cunninghamia lanceolata forest. Hollow circles indicate positive correlation and solid circles indicate negative correlation. *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001. C:N, carbon to nitrogen ratio; C:P, carbon to phosphorus ratio; DOC, dissolved organic carbon content; DON, dissolved organic nitrogen content; HFOC, heavy fraction organic carbon content; LFOC, light fraction organic carbon content; MAOC, mineral-associated organic carbon content; MBC, microbial biomass carbon content; MBN, microbial biomass nitrogen content; N:P, nitrogen to phosphorus ratio; NH4+-N, ammonia nitrogen content; NO3--N, nitrate nitrogen content; NROC, non-readily oxidizable carbon content; POC, particulate organic carbon content; ROC, readily oxidizable carbon content; SWC, soil water content content; TN, total nitrogen content; TP, total phosphorus content.

Fig. 3 Redundancy analysis (RDA) reveal the potential mechanisms that litter removal affect soil carbon components by regulating soil properties in different seasons in subtropical Cunninghamia lanceolata forest. C:N, carbon to nitrogen ratio; C:P, carbon to phosphorus ratio; DON, dissolved organic nitrogen content; MBN, microbial biomass nitrogen content; N:P, nitrogen to phosphorus ratio; NH4+-N, ammonia nitrogen content; NO3--N, nitrate nitrogen content; SWC, soil water content; TIN, total inorganic nitrogen content; TN, total nitrogen content; TP, total phosphorus content. CK, control; NL, leaf litter removal; NLR, leaf litter and root removal; NR, root removal.

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