%0 Journal Article %A Li-Hua TU %A Hong-Ling HU %A Ting-Xing HU %A Jian ZHANG %A Shou-Hua LUO %A Hong-Zhong DAI %T Response of Betula luminifera leaf litter decomposition to simulated nitrogen deposition in the Rainy Area of West China %D 2012 %R 10.3724/SP.J.1258.2012.00099 %J Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology %P 99-108 %V 36 %N 2 %X

Aims Our objective was to determine the effect of simulated increased nitrogen (N) deposition on decomposition of Betula luminifera leaf litter, under a high wet-nitrogen deposition background.
Methods From January 2008 to February 2009, a field experiment of simulated N deposition was conducted in a B. luminifera plantation in the Rainy Area of West China. The levels of nitrogen deposition were control (CK), low, medium and high N (0, 5, 15 and 30 g N·m-2·a-1, respectively). A field experiment using the litterbag method was conducted on the decomposition of leaf litter of B. luminifera. In the end of each month, NH4NO3 was added into N-treated plots.
Important findings Despite the high background N deposition, there were significant effects of simulated increased N deposition on B. luminifera leaf litter. N treatments significantly slowed the decomposition of B. luminifera leaf litter through inhibiting the decay of lignin and cellulose. The time of 95% mass loss (T95%) of B. luminifera leaf litter was increased by 1.14-1.96 a from 2.65 a (T95% of CK) caused by simulated N deposition. Simulated N deposition significantly increased the remaining amount of carbon, N, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium after one year of decomposition. However, calcium release rate was stimulated by simulated N deposition in all three N treatments. The initial chemical characteristics of litter determined the response direction of litter decomposition to simulated N deposition, as well as the nutrient release pattern during litter decomposition.

%U https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1258.2012.00099