Rates of litter decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems: global patterns and controlling factors

doi:10.1093/jpe/rtn002

Abstract

Abstract: Aims We aim to construct a comprehensive global database of litter decomposition rate (k value) estimated by surface floor litterbags, and investigate the direct and indirect effects of impact factors such as geographic factors (latitude and altitude), climatic factors (mean annual tempePlrature, MAT; mean annual precipitation, MAP) and litter quality factors (the contents of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and C:N ratio, lignin:N ratio) on litter decomposition.
Methods We compiled a large data set of litter decomposition rates (k values) from 110 research sites and conducted simple, multiple regression and path analyses to explore the relationship between the k values and impact factors at the global scale.
Important findings The k values tended to decrease with latitude (LAT) and lignin content (LIGN) of litter but increased with temperature, precipitation and nutrient concentrations at the large spatial scale. Single factor such as climate, litter quality and geographic variable could not explain litter decomposition rates well. However, the combination of total nutrient (TN) elements and C:N accounted for 70.2% of the variation in the litter decomposition rates. The combination of LAT, MAT, C:N and TN accounted for 87.54% of the variation in the litter decomposition rates. These results indicate that litter quality is the most important direct regulator of litter decomposition at the global scale. This data synthesis revealed significant relationships between litter decomposition rates and the combination of climatic factor (MAT) and litter quality (C:N, TN). The global-scale empirical relationships developed here are useful for a better understanding and modeling of the effects of litter quality and climatic factors on litter decomposition rates.

Key words: climatic factors, geographic factors, litter decomposition rate, litter quality, path analysis, terrestrial ecosystems

摘要：
Aims We aim to construct a comprehensive global database of litter decomposition rate (k value) estimated by surface floor litterbags, and investigate the direct and indirect effects of impact factors such as geographic factors (latitude and altitude), climatic factors (mean annual tempePlrature, MAT; mean annual precipitation, MAP) and litter quality factors (the contents of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and C:N ratio, lignin:N ratio) on litter decomposition.
Methods We compiled a large data set of litter decomposition rates (k values) from 110 research sites and conducted simple, multiple regression and path analyses to explore the relationship between the k values and impact factors at the global scale.
Important findings The k values tended to decrease with latitude (LAT) and lignin content (LIGN) of litter but increased with temperature, precipitation and nutrient concentrations at the large spatial scale. Single factor such as climate, litter quality and geographic variable could not explain litter decomposition rates well. However, the combination of total nutrient (TN) elements and C:N accounted for 70.2% of the variation in the litter decomposition rates. The combination of LAT, MAT, C:N and TN accounted for 87.54% of the variation in the litter decomposition rates. These results indicate that litter quality is the most important direct regulator of litter decomposition at the global scale. This data synthesis revealed significant relationships between litter decomposition rates and the combination of climatic factor (MAT) and litter quality (C:N, TN). The global-scale empirical relationships developed here are useful for a better understanding and modeling of the effects of litter quality and climatic factors on litter decomposition rates.

Deqiang Zhang, Dafeng Hui, Yiqi Luo, Guoyi Zhou. Rates of litter decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems: global patterns and controlling factors[J]. J Plant Ecol, 2008, 1(2): 85-93.

[1]	Qiang Sun, Hang-Yu Li, Kuan Li, Xiao-Qing Zhang, Ya-Bo Shi, Yan-Tao Wu, Xing Li, Zhi-Yong Li, Jing-Hui Zhang, Li-Xin Wang, Cun-Zhu Liang. Climatic factors regulate the assembly processes of abundant and rare microbial communities in desert soil [J]. J Plant Ecol, 2023, 16(6): 0-rtad032.
[2]	Yuan-Yuan Zhao, Zhuo-Ting Li, Ting Xu and An-ru Lou. Leaf litter decomposition characteristics and controlling factors across two contrasting forest types [J]. J Plant Ecol, 2022, 15(6): 1285-1301.
[3]	Shuli Wang, Xi Yuan, Ling Zhang, Fusheng Chen, Xiangmin Fang, Xiaojun Liu, Bangliang Deng, Nasir Shad, Wenyuan Zhang, Xiaofei Hu, Xiaomin Guo and Evan Siemann. Litter age interacted with N and P addition to impact soil N₂O emissions in Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations [J]. J Plant Ecol, 2022, 15(4): 771-782.
[4]	Yamei Chen, Yang Liu, Jian Zhang, Wanqin Yang, Changchun Deng and Runlian He. Cumulative cellulolytic enzyme activities and initial litter quality in prediction of cellulose degradation in an alpine meadow of the eastern Tibetan Plateau [J]. J Plant Ecol, 2020, 13(1): 51-58.
[5]	Seung Hyun Han, Seongjun Kim, Hanna Chang, Hyun-Jun Kim, Asia Khamzina and Yowhan Son. Soil depth- and root diameter-related variations affect root decomposition in temperate pine and oak forests [J]. J Plant Ecol, 2019, 12(5): 871-881.
[6]	Tingting An, Mingjie Xu, Tao Zhang, Chengqun Yu, Yingge Li, Ning Chen, Jiaxing Zu, Junxiang Li, Juntao Zhu, Yi Sun, Tingting Zhao and Guirui Yu. Grazing alters environmental control mechanisms of evapotranspiration in an alpine meadow of the Tibetan Plateau [J]. J Plant Ecol, 2019, 12(5): 834-845.
[7]	Alexander Kofi Anning, Bridget Gyamfi and Angelina Tima Effah. Broussonetia papyrifera controls nutrient return to soil to facilitate its invasion in a tropical forest of Ghana [J]. J Plant Ecol, 2018, 11(6): 909-918.
[8]	Lifang Zhang, Lilong Wang, Wenliang He, Xinfang Zhang, Lizhe An, Shijian Xu. Patterns of leaf N:P stoichiometry along climatic gradients in sandy region, north of China [J]. J Plant Ecol, 2018, 11(2): 218-225.
[9]	Juan Wang, Yeming You, Zuoxin Tang, Shirong Liu, Osbert Jianxin Sun. Variations in leaf litter decomposition across contrasting forest stands and controlling factors at local scale [J]. J Plant Ecol, 2015, 8(3): 261-272.
[10]	Jae Gyun Byun, Woo Kyun Lee, Moonil Kim, Doo Ahn Kwak, Hanbin Kwak, Taejin Park, Woo Hyuk Byun, Yowhan Son, Jung Kee Choi, Young Jin Lee, Joachim Saborowski, Dong Jun Chung, Jin Hyun Jung. Radial growth response of Pinus densiflora and Quercus spp. to topographic and climatic factors in South Korea [J]. J Plant Ecol, 2013, 6(5): 380-392.
[11]	Jianfeng Liu, Osbert Jianxin Sun, Hongmei Jin, Zhiyong Zhou, Xingguo Han. Application of two remote sensing GPP algorithms at a semiarid grassland site of North China [J]. J Plant Ecol, 2011, 4(4): 302-312.