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Decomposition and nitrogen transformation rates in a temperate grassland vary among co-occurring plant species
Citation
Osanai, Y and Flittner, A and Janes, JK and Theobald, P and Pendall, E and Newton, PCD and Hovenden, MJ, Decomposition and nitrogen transformation rates in a temperate grassland vary among co-occurring plant species, Plant and Soil: International Journal on Plant-Soil Relationships, 350, (1-2) pp. 365-378. ISSN 0032-079X (2011) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
DOI: doi:10.1007/s11104-011-0920-x
Abstract
Background and aims Decomposition of organic
matter varies depending upon interactions between
the composition of the organic matter and the source
of the microbial community, with differences in these
interactions among vegetation types leading to the
Home Field Advantage (HFA) hypothesis whereby
decomposition of litters is faster in soils previously
conditioned by them. It is possible that HFA operates
on smaller scales within plant communities with
ecosystem processes responding to subtle changes of
plant community dominance.
Methods and results Using field measurements and
laboratory incubations, we found a strong plant
species effect on nitrogen availability and transformations
and the relative importance of autotrophic
and heterotrophic processes to nitrification. We found
that the origin of the soil microbial community had
little influence on litter decomposition when litter
quality was high but was important with low-quality
litter, most of which was root material.
Conclusions Our results demonstrate that plant species
identity has a substantial impact on both litter
decomposition and N cycling even within a single
vegetation type and on an extremely local scale via
both litter chemistry and specificity of the associated
soil microbial community. Therefore, changes in
botanical composition could alter decomposition and
nutrient release altering ecosystem productivity and
carbon sequestration potential.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | nutrient cycling, decomposition, carbon storage, soil, plant |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Plant Biology |
| Research Field: | Plant Physiology |
| Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Group: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Field: | Expanding Knowledge in the Environmental Sciences |
| UTAS Author: | Osanai, Y (Ms Yui Osanai) |
| UTAS Author: | Flittner, A (Miss Anna Flittner) |
| UTAS Author: | Janes, JK (Ms Jasmine Janes) |
| UTAS Author: | Hovenden, MJ (Professor Mark Hovenden) |
| ID Code: | 79111 |
| Year Published: | 2011 |
| Funding Support: | Australian Research Council (DP0984779) |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 27 |
| Deposited By: | Plant Science |
| Deposited On: | 2012-08-17 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-11-03 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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