Advances of plant litter decomposition and its microbial mechanisms in peatland

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2025.0066

Abstract

Abstract:

The decomposition of plant litter in peatland is a key process in the ecosystem carbon cycle. The rate of litter decomposition and its underlying mechanisms significantly influence the biogeochemical cycling of peatland ecosystems. Litter decomposition is a complex process governed by the interactions of multiple factors, and increasing research efforts have focused on the effects of both biotic and abiotic factors on this process. Microorganisms, as the primary decomposers of soil organic matter, play an important role in plant litter decomposition by encoding key enzymes that drive organic matter breakdown. In peatland ecosystems, Sphagnum metabolites interact synergistically with microbial communities to jointly regulate the decomposition of plant litter. The “enzymatic latch” hypothesis has been widely used to explain the preservation and decomposition of soil organic matter. However, its applicability and underlying mechanisms remain highly debated in current research. In addition to microbial processes, a variety of biotic factors, including litter quality, plant community composition, and soil fauna, along with abiotic factors such as temperature, moisture, and light, exert significant effects on litter decomposition, either directly or indirectly. Most recent research tend to isolate single factors, while overlooking the combined influence of multiple interacting drivers. This review synthesizes the decomposition processes of plant litter in peatland ecosystems, clarifies the functional roles of microbes and soil enzymes, and explores how both biotic and abiotic factors, individually and interactively, regulate microbial communities and decomposition dynamics. These insights aim to provide a better understanding of peatland carbon cycling and conservation, ultimately contribute to climate change mitigation. Future research should further integrate novel technologies such as metagenomics, metabolomics, and stable isotopic tracing to link aboveground and belowground systems and explore the interactions among plants, microbes, and the soil environments, thereby promoting a more comprehensive understanding and effective conservation of peatland ecosystems.

Key words: peatland, plant litter decomposition, carbon cycle, microorganism, functional gene, soil enzyme

ZHAO Zhi-Yi, HUANG Wei-Quan, HU Jing-Yan, WANG Yi-Yue, YU Meng-Jie, WU Yu-Huan. Advances of plant litter decomposition and its microbial mechanisms in peatland[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2026, 50(4): 801-813.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2025.0066

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2026/V50/I4/801

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References 94

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