Macro- and micronutrient effects on decomposition of leaf litter from two tropical tree species: inferences from a short-term laboratory incubation

• Published in: Plant and soil 2011-09, Vol.346 (1/2), p.245-257
• Main Authors: Powers, Jennifer S., Salute, Stefani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Carbon dioxide; Decomposition; Dry forests; Ecology; Forest litter; Forest soils; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Leaf litter; Leaves; Life Sciences; Litter; Magnesium; Microcosms; Micronutrients; Mineralization; Nickel; Nitrogen; Nutrient concentrations; Nutrients; Phosphorus; Plant litter; Plant nutrition; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plant species; Potassium; Rainforests; Regular Article; Soil; Soil ecology; Soil nutrients; Soil pollution; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Trees; Tropical forests; Tropical soils; Zinc
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-011-0815-x

While a large number of studies have investigated the effects of macronutrients such as nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) on litter decomposition, recent studies suggest that micronutrients including zinc (Zn) may also limit decomposition rates. Our goal was to compare the effects of nutrient addition on decomposition of two leaf litter types from tropical dry forest trees in a short-term laboratory microcosm experiment. Single nutrients (N, P, Zn, potassium, magnesium, and nickel) were applied to leaf litter in solution at low or high concentrations (to mimic in situ availability or to alleviate nutrient limitation, respectively), and decomposition was assessed as final mass remaining and carbon dioxide mineralization. Both mass remaining and CO2 mineralization were affected by nutrient identity and concentration, and these effects varied by species. In general, P and Zn addition increased decomposition, Mg and N inhibited it, and K and Ni had no significant effects. Future studies should consider the interactions between decomposition processes, decomposer communities, and a wider range of macro- and micronutrients.