Decomposition of Mongolian pine litter in the presence of understory species in semi-arid northeast China

作     者：Bing Mao Rong Mao Yalin Hu Yue Huang Dehui Zeng 

作者机构：State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil EcologyInstitute of Applied EcologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenyang 110164China University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing 100049China Daqinggou Ecological StationInstitute of Applied EcologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenyang 110016China Northeast Institute of Geography and AgroecologyChinese Academy of SciencesChangchun 130012China 

出 版 物：《Journal of Forestry Research》 (林业研究（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2016年第27卷第2期

页      面：329-337页

核心收录：

学科分类：0830[工学-环境科学与工程（可授工学、理学、农学学位）] 0907[农学-林学] 0829[工学-林业工程] 09[农学] 0903[农学-农业资源与环境] 0901[农学-作物学] 090301[农学-土壤学] 

基　　金：funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant number 31270668) the State Key Laboratory of Forest and Soil Ecology(grant number LFSE2013-11) 

主　　题：Litter chemistry Litter mixture Mass loss Nitrogen release Understory species 

摘      要：The effects of understory plant litter on domi- nant tree litter decomposition are not well documented especially in semi-arid forests. In this study, we used a microcosm experiment to examine the effects of two understory species （Artemisia scoparia and Setaria viridis） litter on the mass loss and N release of Mongolian pine （Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica） litter in Keerqin Sandy Lands, northeast China, and identified the influencing mechanism from the chemical quality of decomposing litter. Four litter combinations were set up： one monocul- ture of Mongolian pine and three mixtures of Mongolian pine and one or two understory species in equal mass proportions of each species. Total C, total N, lignin, cel- lulose and polyphenol concentrations, and mass loss of pine litter were analyzed at days 84 and 182 of *** chemistry of pine litter not only changed with the stages of decomposition, but was also strongly influenced by the presence of understory species during decomposition. Both understory species promoted mass loss of pine litter at 84 days, while only the simultaneous presence of two understory species promoted mass loss of pine litter at 182 days. Mass loss of pine litter was negatively correlated with initial ratios of C/N, lignin/N and polyphenol/N of litter combinations during the entire incubation period; at 182 days it was negatively correlated with polyphenol concentration and ratios of C/N and polyphenol/N of litter combinations at 84 days of incubation. Nitrogen release of pine litter was promoted in the presence of understory species. Nitrogen release at 84 days was negatively correlated with initial N concentration; at 182 days it was negatively correlated with initial polyphenol concentration of litter combinations and positively correlated with lignin concentration of litter com- binations at 84 days of incubation. Our results suggest that the presence ofunderstory species causes substantial changes in chemical components of pine litt