Mass loss and nutrient dynamics during litter decomposition in response to warming and nitrogen addition in a desert steppe |
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| Authors: | Haiyan REN Jie QIN Baolong YAN Alata Baoyinhexige Guodong HAN |
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| Institution: | 1. College of Grassland, Resources and Environment/Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources of the Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Forage Cultivation, Processing and High Efficient Utilization of the Ministry of Agriculture, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010011, China2. Siziwang Grassland Research Station, Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Hohhot 010031, China |
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| Abstract: | Plant litter decomposition has been studied extensively in the context of both warming and increased atmospheric nitrogen deposition. However, the temporal patterns of mass loss and nutrient release in response to warming and nitrogen addition remain unclear. A 2-year decomposition experiment aimed to examine the effects of warming and nitrogen addition on decomposition rate, and nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics. The effects of warming and nitrogen addition on decomposition of litter of Stipa breviflora, a dominant species in a desert steppe of northern China, were studied. Warming and nitrogen addition significantly enhanced litter mass loss by 10% and 16%, respectively, and moreover promoted nitrogen and phosphorus release from the litter in the first year of decomposition, followed by an immobilization period. The interactive effects of warming and nitrogen addition on mass loss, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations of litter were also found during the decomposition. This study indicates that warming and nitrogen addition increased litter mass loss through altering litter quality. These findings highlight that interactions between climate change and other global change factors could be highly important in driving decomposition responses. |
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| Keywords: | climate warming grassland litter decomposition nitrogen deposition nutrient release |
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