Effects of fertilization on litter decomposition dynamics and nutrient release in orchard systems

Plant litter decomposition is a significant ecosystem function that regulates nutrient cycling, soil fertility, and biomass production. It is heavily regulated by nutrient intake. The effects of exogenous nutrients on litter decomposition are not yet fully understood. To determine how Eriobotrya jap...

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Main Authors: Huayue Nie, Chunhe You, Jixi Gao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1467689/full
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author Huayue Nie
Huayue Nie
Chunhe You
Jixi Gao
author_facet Huayue Nie
Huayue Nie
Chunhe You
Jixi Gao
author_sort Huayue Nie
collection DOAJ
description Plant litter decomposition is a significant ecosystem function that regulates nutrient cycling, soil fertility, and biomass production. It is heavily regulated by nutrient intake. The effects of exogenous nutrients on litter decomposition are not yet fully understood. To determine how Eriobotrya japonica litter decomposition responds to adding nutrients, we used the decomposition litter bag method in the laboratory for 180 days. There were five different nutrient treatment levels were used: control (no addition), low nitrogen addition (LN; 100 kg N·ha−1·year−1), high nitrogen addition (HN; 200 kg N·ha−1·year−1), phosphorus addition (P; 50 kg P·ha−1·year−1), and micronutrient addition (M; 50 kg M·ha−1·year−1). According to a repeated-measures analysis of variance, adding N reduced the remaining mass (p < 0.01) by 4.1% compared to the CK group. In contrast, adding M increased the remaining mass (p < 0.01) by 6.8% compared to the CK group. Adding P had no significant effect on the remaining mass. Although the amount of residual carbon (C) was unaffected, adding N increased the level of residual N in the litter. Litter C content, K content, N concentration, and C/N ratio were linearly correlated to the remaining litter (p < 0.01). Although adding nutrients decreased soil enzyme activity later in the decomposition process, no significant correlation was detected between enzyme activity and the remaining mass. N fertilization treatments decreased the soil microbial diversity index. The addition of nitrogen and micronutrients reduced the abundance of Acidobacteria, while HN addition increased the abundance of Actinobacteria. The addition of micronutrients increased the abundance of Proteobacteria. These results imply that N-induced alterations in the element content of the litter regulated the effects of nutrient inputs on litter decomposition. This study can be a reference for the fertilization-induced decomposition of agricultural waste litter.
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spelling doaj-art-6b5e01648e9c4d019b90c229e125de652024-12-05T04:25:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2024-12-011510.3389/fpls.2024.14676891467689Effects of fertilization on litter decomposition dynamics and nutrient release in orchard systemsHuayue Nie0Huayue Nie1Chunhe You2Jixi Gao3School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, ChinaSatellite Application Center for Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, ChinaSatellite Application Center for Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing, ChinaPlant litter decomposition is a significant ecosystem function that regulates nutrient cycling, soil fertility, and biomass production. It is heavily regulated by nutrient intake. The effects of exogenous nutrients on litter decomposition are not yet fully understood. To determine how Eriobotrya japonica litter decomposition responds to adding nutrients, we used the decomposition litter bag method in the laboratory for 180 days. There were five different nutrient treatment levels were used: control (no addition), low nitrogen addition (LN; 100 kg N·ha−1·year−1), high nitrogen addition (HN; 200 kg N·ha−1·year−1), phosphorus addition (P; 50 kg P·ha−1·year−1), and micronutrient addition (M; 50 kg M·ha−1·year−1). According to a repeated-measures analysis of variance, adding N reduced the remaining mass (p < 0.01) by 4.1% compared to the CK group. In contrast, adding M increased the remaining mass (p < 0.01) by 6.8% compared to the CK group. Adding P had no significant effect on the remaining mass. Although the amount of residual carbon (C) was unaffected, adding N increased the level of residual N in the litter. Litter C content, K content, N concentration, and C/N ratio were linearly correlated to the remaining litter (p < 0.01). Although adding nutrients decreased soil enzyme activity later in the decomposition process, no significant correlation was detected between enzyme activity and the remaining mass. N fertilization treatments decreased the soil microbial diversity index. The addition of nitrogen and micronutrients reduced the abundance of Acidobacteria, while HN addition increased the abundance of Actinobacteria. The addition of micronutrients increased the abundance of Proteobacteria. These results imply that N-induced alterations in the element content of the litter regulated the effects of nutrient inputs on litter decomposition. This study can be a reference for the fertilization-induced decomposition of agricultural waste litter.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1467689/fulllitter decompositionnutrient additionselement releasenitrogenphosphorus
spellingShingle Huayue Nie
Huayue Nie
Chunhe You
Jixi Gao
Effects of fertilization on litter decomposition dynamics and nutrient release in orchard systems
Frontiers in Plant Science
litter decomposition
nutrient additions
element release
nitrogen
phosphorus
title Effects of fertilization on litter decomposition dynamics and nutrient release in orchard systems
title_full Effects of fertilization on litter decomposition dynamics and nutrient release in orchard systems
title_fullStr Effects of fertilization on litter decomposition dynamics and nutrient release in orchard systems
title_full_unstemmed Effects of fertilization on litter decomposition dynamics and nutrient release in orchard systems
title_short Effects of fertilization on litter decomposition dynamics and nutrient release in orchard systems
title_sort effects of fertilization on litter decomposition dynamics and nutrient release in orchard systems
topic litter decomposition
nutrient additions
element release
nitrogen
phosphorus
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1467689/full
work_keys_str_mv AT huayuenie effectsoffertilizationonlitterdecompositiondynamicsandnutrientreleaseinorchardsystems
AT huayuenie effectsoffertilizationonlitterdecompositiondynamicsandnutrientreleaseinorchardsystems
AT chunheyou effectsoffertilizationonlitterdecompositiondynamicsandnutrientreleaseinorchardsystems
AT jixigao effectsoffertilizationonlitterdecompositiondynamicsandnutrientreleaseinorchardsystems