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Chakrawal A, Lindahl BD, Manzoni S. Modelling optimal ligninolytic activity during plant litter decomposition. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 243:866-880. [PMID: 38343140 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
A large fraction of plant litter comprises recalcitrant aromatic compounds (lignin and other phenolics). Quantifying the fate of aromatic compounds is difficult, because oxidative degradation of aromatic carbon (C) is a costly but necessary endeavor for microorganisms, and we do not know when gains from the decomposition of aromatic C outweigh energetic costs. To evaluate these tradeoffs, we developed a litter decomposition model in which the aromatic C decomposition rate is optimized dynamically to maximize microbial growth for the given costs of maintaining ligninolytic activity. We tested model performance against > 200 litter decomposition datasets collected from published literature and assessed the effects of climate and litter chemistry on litter decomposition. The model predicted a time-varying ligninolytic oxidation rate, which was used to calculate the lag time before the decomposition of aromatic C is initiated. Warmer conditions increased decomposition rates, shortened the lag time of aromatic C oxidation, and improved microbial C-use efficiency by decreasing the costs of oxidation. Moreover, a higher initial content of aromatic C promoted an earlier start of aromatic C decomposition under any climate. With this contribution, we highlight the application of eco-evolutionary approaches based on optimized microbial life strategies as an alternative parametrization scheme for litter decomposition models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun Chakrawal
- Department of Physical Geography and Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Björn D Lindahl
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Soil and Environment, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Stefano Manzoni
- Department of Physical Geography and Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
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2
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Huang W, Kuzyakov Y, Niu S, Luo Y, Sun B, Zhang J, Liang Y. Drivers of microbially and plant-derived carbon in topsoil and subsoil. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:6188-6200. [PMID: 37732716 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Plant- and microbially derived carbon (C) are the two major sources of soil organic matter (SOM), and their ratio impacts SOM composition, accumulation, stability, and turnover. The contributions of and the key factors defining the plant and microbial C in SOM along the soil profile are not well known. By leveraging nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and biomarker analysis, we analyzed the plant and microbial C in three soil types using regional-scale sampling and combined these results with a meta-analysis. Topsoil (0-40 cm) was rich in carbohydrates and lignin (38%-50%), whereas subsoil (40-100 cm) contained more proteins and lipids (26%-60%). The proportion of plant C increases, while microbial C decreases with SOM content. The decrease rate of the ratio of the microbially derived C to plant-derived C (CM:P ) with SOM content was 23%-30% faster in the topsoil than in the subsoil in the regional study and meta-analysis. The topsoil had high potential to stabilize plant-derived C through intensive microbial transformations and microbial necromass formation. Plant C input and mean annual soil temperature were the main factors defining CM:P in topsoil, whereas the fungi-to-bacteria ratio and clay content were the main factors influencing subsoil CM:P . Combining a regional study and meta-analysis, we highlighted the contribution of plant litter to microbial necromass to organic matter up to 1-m soil depth and elucidated the main factors regulating their long-term preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weigen Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yakov Kuzyakov
- Department of Soil Science of Temperate Ecosystems, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Рeoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Shuli Niu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Luo
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bo Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiabao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuting Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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3
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Yi B, Lu C, Huang W, Yu W, Yang J, Howe A, Weintraub-Leff SR, Hall SJ. Resolving the influence of lignin on soil organic matter decomposition with mechanistic models and continental-scale data. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:5968-5980. [PMID: 37448171 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Confidence in model estimates of soil CO2 flux depends on assumptions regarding fundamental mechanisms that control the decomposition of litter and soil organic carbon (SOC). Multiple hypotheses have been proposed to explain the role of lignin, an abundant and complex biopolymer that may limit decomposition. We tested competing mechanisms using data-model fusion with modified versions of the CN-SIM model and a 571-day laboratory incubation dataset where decomposition of litter, lignin, and SOC was measured across 80 soil samples from the National Ecological Observatory Network. We found that lignin decomposition consistently decreased over time in 65 samples, whereas in the other 15 samples, lignin decomposition subsequently increased. These "lagged-peak" samples can be predicted by low soil pH, high extractable Mn, and fungal community composition as measured by ITS PC2 (the second principal component of an ordination of fungal ITS amplicon sequences). The highest-performing model incorporated soil biogeochemical factors and daily dynamics of substrate availability (labile bulk litter:lignin) that jointly represented two hypotheses (C substrate limitation and co-metabolism) previously thought to influence lignin decomposition. In contrast, models representing either hypothesis alone were biased and underestimated cumulative decomposition. Our findings reconcile competing hypotheses of lignin decomposition and suggest the need to precisely represent the role of lignin and consider soil metal and fungal characteristics to accurately estimate decomposition in Earth-system models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Yi
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Chaoqun Lu
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Wenjuan Huang
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Wenjuan Yu
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Jihoon Yang
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Adina Howe
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | | | - Steven J Hall
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
- Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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4
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Huang W, Yu W, Yi B, Raman E, Yang J, Hammel KE, Timokhin VI, Lu C, Howe A, Weintraub-Leff SR, Hall SJ. Contrasting geochemical and fungal controls on decomposition of lignin and soil carbon at continental scale. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2227. [PMID: 37076534 PMCID: PMC10115774 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37862-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Lignin is an abundant and complex plant polymer that may limit litter decomposition, yet lignin is sometimes a minor constituent of soil organic carbon (SOC). Accounting for diversity in soil characteristics might reconcile this apparent contradiction. Tracking decomposition of a lignin/litter mixture and SOC across different North American mineral soils using lab and field incubations, here we show that cumulative lignin decomposition varies 18-fold among soils and is strongly correlated with bulk litter decomposition, but not SOC decomposition. Climate legacy predicts decomposition in the lab, and impacts of nitrogen availability are minor compared with geochemical and microbial properties. Lignin decomposition increases with some metals and fungal taxa, whereas SOC decomposition decreases with metals and is weakly related with fungi. Decoupling of lignin and SOC decomposition and their contrasting biogeochemical drivers indicate that lignin is not necessarily a bottleneck for SOC decomposition and can explain variable contributions of lignin to SOC among ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Huang
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Wenjuan Yu
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
| | - Bo Yi
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Erik Raman
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Jihoon Yang
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Kenneth E Hammel
- U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Vitaliy I Timokhin
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Chaoqun Lu
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Adina Howe
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | - Steven J Hall
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
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5
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Jia J, Liu Z, Haghipour N, Wacker L, Zhang H, Sierra CA, Ma T, Wang Y, Chen L, Luo A, Wang Z, He JS, Zhao M, Eglinton TI, Feng X. Molecular 14 C evidence for contrasting turnover and temperature sensitivity of soil organic matter components. Ecol Lett 2023; 26:778-788. [PMID: 36922740 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Climate projection requires an accurate understanding for soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition and its response to warming. An emergent view considers that environmental constraints rather than chemical structure alone control SOC turnover and its temperature sensitivity (i.e., Q10 ), but direct long-term evidence is lacking. Here, using compound-specific radiocarbon analysis of soil profiles along a 3300-km grassland transect, we provide direct evidence for the rapid turnover of lignin-derived phenols compared with slower-cycling molecular components of SOC (i.e., long-chain lipids and black carbon). Furthermore, in contrast to the slow-cycling components whose turnover is strongly modulated by mineral association and exhibits low Q10 , lignin turnover is mainly regulated by temperature and has a high Q10 . Such contrasts resemble those between fast-cycling (i.e., light) and mineral-associated slow-cycling fractions from globally distributed soils. Collectively, our results suggest that warming may greatly accelerate the decomposition of lignin, especially in soils with relatively weak mineral associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zongguang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Negar Haghipour
- Geological Institute, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.,Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, Department of Physics, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Wacker
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, Department of Physics, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hailong Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System of the Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.,Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China
| | - Carlos A Sierra
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany.,Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tian Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yiyun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Litong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
| | - Ao Luo
- Institute of Ecology and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiheng Wang
- Institute of Ecology and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jin-Sheng He
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Institute of Ecology and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Meixun Zhao
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System of the Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.,Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China
| | | | - Xiaojuan Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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6
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Xu MP, Zhi RC, Jian JN, Feng YZ, Han XH, Zhang W. Changes in Soil Organic C Fractions and C Pool Stability Are Mediated by C-Degrading Enzymes in Litter Decomposition of Robinia pseudoacacia Plantations. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022:10.1007/s00248-022-02113-6. [PMID: 36123554 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-02113-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Litter decomposition is the main source of soil organic carbon (SOC) pool, regarding as an important part of terrestrial ecosystem C dynamics. The turnover of SOC is mainly regulated by extracellular enzymes secreted by microorganisms. However, the response mechanism of soil C-degrading enzymes and SOC in litter decomposition remains unclear. To clarify how SOC fraction dynamics respond to C-degrading enzymes in litter decomposition, we used field experiments to collect leaf litter and SOC fractions from the underlying layer in Robinia pseudoacacia plantations on the Loess Plateau. Our results showed that SOC, easily oxidizable organic C, dissolved organic C, and microbial biomass C increased significantly during the decomposition process. Litter decomposition significantly decreased soil hydrolase activity, but slightly increased oxidase activity. Correlation analysis results showed that SOC fractions were significantly positively correlated with the litter mass, lignin, soil moisture, and oxidase activity, but significantly negatively correlated with cellulose content and soil pH. Partial least squares path models revealed that soil C-degrading enzymes can directly or indirectly affect the changes of soil C fractions. The most direct factors affecting the SOC fractions of topsoil during litter decomposition were litter lignin and cellulose degradation, soil pH, and C-degrading enzymes. Furthermore, regression analysis showed that the decrease of SOC stability in litter decomposition was closely related to the decrease of soil hydrolase to oxidase ratio. These results highlighted that litter degradation-induced changes in C-degrading enzyme activity significantly affected SOC fractions. Furthermore, the distribution of soil hydrolases and oxidases affected the stability of SOC during litter decomposition. These findings provided a theoretical framework for a more comprehensive understanding of C turnover and stabilization mechanisms between plant and soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao-Ping Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, 712100, China
| | - Ruo-Chen Zhi
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, 712100, China
| | - Jun-Nan Jian
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, 712100, China
| | - Yong-Zhong Feng
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, 712100, China
| | - Xin-Hui Han
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, 712100, China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang, China
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7
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Méndez MS, Ballaré CL, Austin AT. Dose-responses for solar radiation exposure reveal high sensitivity of microbial decomposition to changes in plant litter quality that occur during photodegradation. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 235:2022-2033. [PMID: 35579884 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plant litter decomposition is a key process for carbon (C) turnover in terrestrial ecosystems. Sunlight has been shown to cause and accelerate C release in semiarid ecosystems, yet the dose-response relationships for these effects have not been evaluated. We conducted a two-phase experiment where plant litter of three species was subjected to a broad range of cumulative solar radiation (CSR) exposures under field conditions. We then evaluated the relationships between CSR exposure and abiotic mass loss, litter quality and the subsequent biotic decomposition and microbial activity in litter. Dose-response relationships demonstrated that CSR exposure was modestly correlated with abiotic mass loss but highly significantly correlated with lignin degradation, saccharification, microbial activity and biotic decay of plant litter across all species. Moreover, a comparison of these dose-response relationships suggested that small reductions in litter lignin due to exposure to sunlight may have large consequences for biotic decay. These results provide strong support for a model that postulates a critical role for lignin photodegradation in the mechanism of photofacilitation and demonstrate that, under natural field conditions, biotic degradation of plant litter is linearly related with the dose of solar radiation received by the material before coming into contact with decomposer microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Soledad Méndez
- Facultad de Agronomía, Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura (IFEVA) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 4453, Buenos Aires, C1417DSE, Argentina
| | - Carlos L Ballaré
- Facultad de Agronomía, Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura (IFEVA) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 4453, Buenos Aires, C1417DSE, Argentina
- IIBio, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires, B1650HMP, Argentina
| | - Amy T Austin
- Facultad de Agronomía, Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura (IFEVA) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 4453, Buenos Aires, C1417DSE, Argentina
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8
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Alpine Litter Humification and Its Response to Reduced Snow Cover: Can More Carbon Be Sequestered in Soils? FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13060897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
While carbon loss from plant litter is well understood, the mechanisms by which this carbon is sequestered in the decomposing litter substrate remains unclear. Here we assessed humus accumulations in five foliar litters during four years of decomposition and their responses to reduced snow cover in an alpine forest. In contrast to the traditional understanding (i.e., the three-stage model), we found that fresh litter had a high humus content (8–13% across species), which consistently increased during litter decomposition and such an increase primarily depended on the accumulation of humic acid. Further, reduced snow cover decreased humus accumulation at early stages but increased it at late stages. These results suggested that humification simultaneously occurred with decomposition during early litter decay, but this process was more sensitive to the changing climate in seasonally snow-covered ecosystems, as previously expected.
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9
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Zhou Y, Wang L, Chen Y, Zhang J, Xu Z, Guo L, Wang L, You C, Tan B, Zhang L, Chen L, Xiao J, Zhu P, Liu Y. Temporal dynamics of mixed litter humification in an alpine treeline ecotone. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 803:150122. [PMID: 34525692 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Loss of plant diversity affects mountain ecosystem properties and processes, yet few studies have focused on the impact of plant function type deficiency on mixed litter humification. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted a 1279-day litterbag decomposition experiment with six plant functional types of foliar litter to determine the temporal dynamic characteristics of mixed litter humification in a coniferous forest (CF) and an alpine shrubland (AS). The results indicated that the humus concentrations, the net accumulations and their relative mixed effects (RME) of most types were higher in CF than those in AS at 146 days, and humus net accumulations fell to approximately -80% of the initial level within 1279 days. The RME of the total humus and humic acid concentrations exhibited a general change from synergistic to antagonistic effects over time, but the mixing of single plant functional type impeded the formation of fulvic acid due to consistently exhibited antagonistic effects. Ultimately, correlation analysis indicated that environmental factors (temperature, snow depth and freeze-thaw cycles) significantly hindered litter humification in the early stage, while some initial quality factors drove this process at a longer scale. Among these aspects, the concentrations of zinc, copper and iron, as well as acid-unhydrolyzable residue (AUR):nitrogen and AUR:phosphorous, stimulated humus accumulation, while water-soluble extractables, potassium, magnesium and aluminium hampered it. Deficiencies in a single plant functional type and vegetation type variations affected litter humification at the alpine treeline, which will further affect soil carbon sequestration, which is of great significance for understanding the material circulation of alpine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhou
- Long-term Research Station of Alpine Ecosystems, Key laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering of Sichuan Province, Institute of Ecology & Forests, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Lifeng Wang
- Long-term Research Station of Alpine Ecosystems, Key laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering of Sichuan Province, Institute of Ecology & Forests, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Yamei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation, China West Normal University, Ministry of Education, Nanchong, Sichuan 637009, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Long-term Research Station of Alpine Ecosystems, Key laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering of Sichuan Province, Institute of Ecology & Forests, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Zhenfeng Xu
- Long-term Research Station of Alpine Ecosystems, Key laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering of Sichuan Province, Institute of Ecology & Forests, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Li Guo
- College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Lixia Wang
- Long-term Research Station of Alpine Ecosystems, Key laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering of Sichuan Province, Institute of Ecology & Forests, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Chengming You
- Long-term Research Station of Alpine Ecosystems, Key laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering of Sichuan Province, Institute of Ecology & Forests, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Bo Tan
- Long-term Research Station of Alpine Ecosystems, Key laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering of Sichuan Province, Institute of Ecology & Forests, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Long-term Research Station of Alpine Ecosystems, Key laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering of Sichuan Province, Institute of Ecology & Forests, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - LiangHua Chen
- Long-term Research Station of Alpine Ecosystems, Key laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering of Sichuan Province, Institute of Ecology & Forests, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - JiuJin Xiao
- Long-term Research Station of Alpine Ecosystems, Key laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering of Sichuan Province, Institute of Ecology & Forests, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Peng Zhu
- Long-term Research Station of Alpine Ecosystems, Key laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering of Sichuan Province, Institute of Ecology & Forests, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Long-term Research Station of Alpine Ecosystems, Key laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering of Sichuan Province, Institute of Ecology & Forests, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
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10
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Monitoring transformation of two tropical lignocellulosics and their lignins after residence in Benin soils. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21524. [PMID: 34728778 PMCID: PMC8563747 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01091-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Thermally assisted Hydrolysis and Methylation (THM), and 2D-heteronuclear single quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance (2D HSQC NMR) spectroscopy were used to monitor the transformation of ramial chipped wood (RCW) from Gmelina arborea and Sarcocephalus latifolius, together with their organosolv lignins, following soil incubation in Benin (West Africa). Mesh litterbags containing RCW were buried in soils (10 cm depth) and were retrieved after 0, 6, 12 and 18 months of field incubation. Chemical analysis showed that total carbohydrate content decreased, while total lignin content increased as RCW decomposition progressed. Ash and mineral content of RCW increased significantly after 18 months of decomposition in soil. Significant N-enrichment of the RCW was determined following 18 months incubation in soils, reaching 2.6 and 1.9 times the initial N-content for G. arborea and S. latifolius. Results of THM showed that the S + G sum, corresponding to lignins, increased with RCW residence time in the soils, in contrast to the response of compounds derived from carbohydrates, the sum of which decreased. Remarkably, lignin interunit linkages, most notably β-O-4' aryl ethers, β-β' resinol, β-5' phenylcoumaran and p-PCA p-coumarate, survived after 18 months in the soil, despite their gradual decrease over the duration of the experiment.
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11
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Large Mammalian Herbivores and the Paradox of Soil Carbon in Grazing Ecosystems: Role of Microbial Decomposers and Their Enzymes. Ecosystems 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-021-00696-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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12
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Wang L, Chen Y, Zhou Y, Zheng H, Xu Z, Tan B, You C, Zhang L, Li H, Guo L, Wang L, Huang Y, Zhang J, Liu Y. Litter chemical traits strongly drove the carbon fractions loss during decomposition across an alpine treeline ecotone. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 753:142287. [PMID: 33207458 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Revised: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The decomposition of litter carbon (C) fraction is a major determinant of soil organic matter pool and nutrient cycling. However, knowledge of litter chemical traits regulate C fractions release is still relatively limited. A litterbag experiment was conducted using six plant functional litter types at two vegetation type (coniferous forest and alpine shrubland) in a treeline ecotone. We evaluated the relative importance of litter chemistry (i.e. Nutrient, C quality, and stoichiometry) on the loss of litter mass, non-polar extractables (NPE), water-soluble extractables (WSE), acid-hydrolyzable carbohydrates (ACID), and acid-unhydrolyzable residue (AUR) during decomposition. Litter nutrients contain nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), aluminium (Al), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu), litter C quality contains C, WSE, NPE, ACID, and AUR, and stoichiometry was defined by C:N, C:P; N:P, ACID:N, and AUR:N. The results showed single exponential model fitted decomposition rates of litter mass and C fractions better than double exponential or asymptotic decomposition, and the decomposition rates of C fractions were strongly correlated with initial litter nutrients, especially K, Na, Ca. Furthermore, the temporal dynamics of litter nutrients (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Zn, and Fe) strongly regulated C fractions loss during the decomposition process. Changes in litter C quality had an evident effect on the degradation of ACID and AUR, supporting the concept of "priming effect" of soluble carbon fraction. The significant differences were found in the release of NPE, WSE, and ACID rather than AUR among coniferous forest and alpine shrubland, and the vegetation type effects largely depend on the changes in litter stoichiometry, which is an important implication for the change in plant community abundance regulate decay. Collectively, elucidating the hierarchical drivers of litter chemistry on decomposition is critical to soil C sequestration in alpine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifeng Wang
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Sichuan Province Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Yamei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation, China West Normal University, Ministry of Education, Nanchong, Sichuan 637009, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Sichuan Province Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Haifeng Zheng
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Zhenfeng Xu
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Sichuan Province Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Bo Tan
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Sichuan Province Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Chengming You
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Sichuan Province Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Li Zhang
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Sichuan Province Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Han Li
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Sichuan Province Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Li Guo
- College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Lixia Wang
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Sichuan Province Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Youyou Huang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation, China West Normal University, Ministry of Education, Nanchong, Sichuan 637009, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Sichuan Province Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Yang Liu
- National Forestry and Grassland Administration Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecological Safety on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Sichuan Province Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering on the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
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Huang XL, Chen JZ, Wang D, Deng MM, Wu MY, Tong BL, Liu JM. Simulated atmospheric nitrogen deposition inhibited the leaf litter decomposition of Cinnamomum migao H. W. Li in Southwest China. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1748. [PMID: 33462355 PMCID: PMC7814063 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81458-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition could affect various ecological processes in forest ecosystems, including plant litter decomposition and nutrient cycling. However, the mechanism of underlying litter decomposition and nutrient cycling of Cinnamomum migao under N deposition remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted a simulated N deposition experiment including four onsite treatments to assess the effects of N input on C. migao leaf litter decomposition, nutrient release, and soil enzyme activity. The results showed that simulated N deposition significantly increased the amount of total residual mass and lignin and cellulose, decreased the decomposition rate, and suppressed net nutrient release. N input increased C, N, and P ratios as decomposition progressed, and the proportion of mass remaining was positively correlated with the proportions of lignin and cellulose remaining at the later stage of decomposition. The differences in soil enzyme activity were primarily due to enzyme type and sampling time. We conclude that simulated N deposition significantly suppressed the leaf litter decomposition of C. migao by mainly altering the chemical properties and suppressing the decomposition of the organic matter in leaf litter. Lignin might have played an important role in the loss of leaf litter biomass at the later stage of decomposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Long Huang
- grid.443382.a0000 0004 1804 268XDepartment of Ecology, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025 China ,grid.443382.a0000 0004 1804 268XForest Ecology Research Center of Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025 China
| | - Jing-Zhong Chen
- grid.443382.a0000 0004 1804 268XDepartment of Ecology, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025 China ,grid.443382.a0000 0004 1804 268XForest Ecology Research Center of Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025 China
| | - Deng Wang
- grid.443382.a0000 0004 1804 268XDepartment of Ecology, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025 China ,grid.443382.a0000 0004 1804 268XForest Ecology Research Center of Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025 China
| | - Ming-Ming Deng
- grid.443382.a0000 0004 1804 268XDepartment of Ecology, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025 China ,grid.443382.a0000 0004 1804 268XForest Ecology Research Center of Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025 China
| | - Meng-Yao Wu
- grid.443382.a0000 0004 1804 268XDepartment of Ecology, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025 China ,grid.443382.a0000 0004 1804 268XForest Ecology Research Center of Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025 China
| | - Bing-Li Tong
- grid.443382.a0000 0004 1804 268XDepartment of Ecology, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025 China ,grid.443382.a0000 0004 1804 268XForest Ecology Research Center of Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025 China
| | - Ji-Ming Liu
- grid.443382.a0000 0004 1804 268XDepartment of Ecology, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025 China ,grid.443382.a0000 0004 1804 268XForest Ecology Research Center of Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025 China
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