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Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in...
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Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in Forests

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Soil".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 June 2022) | Viewed by 26702

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Fuzhong Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China
Interests: forest litter; soil organic matter; nutrient cycling; soil humus; litter humification
Prof. Dr. Zhenfeng Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Ecology & Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Interests: root litter; carbon and nutrient cycling; alpine/subalpine forests; litter decomposition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Wanqin Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Life Science, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, China
Interests: woody debris; soil organic matter; nutrient cycling; soil carbon sequestration; forest litterfall
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants periodically shed more than 90% of their biomass production as above- and below- ground litter, including foliar, twig, flower, log, root and others. It is one of the key biogeochemical processes in transferring carbon and nutrients from plants back into the soil within forests, which are the most important sources of soil organic matter formation and are crucial in maintaining soil fertility. Furthermore, how to sequester more carbon in forest soil by litter production and humification could currently be a potential efficient strategy serving “carbon-neutral”and sustainable forest management.

It is well documented that global lands have been greening since the 1980s. As a result, plant litter production inevitably increases with increasing net primary productivity. However, current attention has not been fully paid to the changes of litter quality and quantity, and the transfer processes of carbon and nutrients through litter production or decomposition in forests. Moreover, these processes may respond differently to the ongoing climate change among forest ecosystems. Obviously, up-to-date knowledge and theory are urgently needed. 

We are seeking papers on the questions above. This Special Issue will provide an opportunity to present the results of studies on the past, current and future carbon and nutrient transfer from forest litter.

Prof. Dr. Fuzhong Wu
Prof. Dr. Zhenfeng Xu
Prof. Dr. Wanqin Yang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • forest litterfall
  • carbon sequestration
  • nutrient cycling
  • litter decomposition
  • litter humification
  • soil organic matter

Published Papers (16 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 645 KiB  
Editorial
Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above- and Below-Ground Litter in Forests
by Fuzhong Wu, Zhenfeng Xu and Wanqin Yang
Forests 2022, 13(12), 2176; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13122176 - 18 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1056
Abstract
Plants periodically shed more than 90% of their biomass production as above- and below-ground litter, including leaves, twigs, flowers, logs, roots and other tissues [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in Forests)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

13 pages, 1921 KiB  
Article
Initial Carbon Quality of Newly Shed Foliar Litter in an Alpine Forest from Proximate Analysis and 13C NMR Spectroscopy Perspectives
by Jiaping Yang, Junpeng Mu, Yu Zhang, Changkun Fu, Qing Dong, Yulian Yang and Qinggui Wu
Forests 2022, 13(11), 1886; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13111886 - 10 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1151
Abstract
The initial carbon (C) quality of plant litter is one of the major factors controlling the litter decomposition rate and regulating C sequestration, but a comprehensive understanding is still lacking. Here, we used proximate analysis and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with [...] Read more.
The initial carbon (C) quality of plant litter is one of the major factors controlling the litter decomposition rate and regulating C sequestration, but a comprehensive understanding is still lacking. Here, we used proximate analysis and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with spectral editing techniques to quantify the variations in the initial C quality for four dominant species (fir: Abies faxoniana Rehd. et Wils.; spruce: Picea asperata Mast; willow: Salix paraplesia Schneid; and rosa: Rosa omeiensis Rolfe.), including the organic compositions and C-based chemical structures of newly shed foliar litter over eight months in an alpine forest on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. The results indicated that the fractions of acid-soluble extractives (ASE) and acid-unhydrolyzable residues (AUR) were the main fractions of organic components, and aliphatic C and O-alkyl C were the main functional C groups for all plant species. Under the effects of the plant species, higher levels of ASE (37.62%) and aliphatic C (35.44%) were detected in newly shed rosa foliar litter, while higher levels of AUR (fir: 37.05%; spruce: 41.45%; and willow: 40.04%) and O-alkyl C (fir: 32.03%; spruce: 35.02%; and willow: 32.34%) were detected in newly shed fir, spruce and willow foliar litter. Moreover, the A/O-A and HB/HI ratios in rosa litter were 0.88 and 1.15, respectively, which were higher than those in fir, spruce and willow litter. The C quality of newly shed foliar litter varied seasonally due to the litter quality and environmental conditions, especially nitrogen (N), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), manganese (Mn) and monthly air temperature. We also found that C loss during 4-year litter decomposition was highly related to the aromatic C and phenolic C contents in newly shed foliar litter, suggesting that litter decomposition was strongly controlled by the initial recalcitrant C fractions. We conclude that the C quality of newly shed foliar litter in rosa might be structurally stable and more resistant to degradation than that of fir, spruce and willow, which contain abundant labile C fractions, and the initial recalcitrant C fractions are closely related to C loss during litter decomposition, which might contribute to soil C sequestration in alpine forests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in Forests)
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21 pages, 1628 KiB  
Article
Dynamic Change Characteristics of Litter and Nutrient Return in Subtropical Evergreen Broad-Leaved Forest in Different Extreme Weather Disturbance Years in Ailao Mountain, Yunnan Province
by Xingyue Liu, Ziyuan Wang, Xi Liu, Zhiyun Lu, Dawen Li and Hede Gong
Forests 2022, 13(10), 1660; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13101660 - 10 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1386
Abstract
By studying the dynamic change characteristics of litter production, composition, nutrient content, and return amount of different components in different extreme weather interference years of Ailao Mountain evergreen broad-leaved forest, the paper provides theoretical support for the post-disaster nutrient cycle, ecological recovery, and [...] Read more.
By studying the dynamic change characteristics of litter production, composition, nutrient content, and return amount of different components in different extreme weather interference years of Ailao Mountain evergreen broad-leaved forest, the paper provides theoretical support for the post-disaster nutrient cycle, ecological recovery, and sustainable development of the subtropical mid-mountain humid evergreen broad-leaved forest. Square litter collectors were randomly set up to collect litter. After drying to a constant mass, we calculated the seasonal and annual litter volume and the contents of organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), total phosphorus (P), total potassium (k), total sulfur (S), total calcium (Ca), and total magnesium (Mg). Finally, the nutrient return amount is comprehensively calculated according to the litter amount and element content. We tracked dynamic changes in litter quantity, nutrient composition, and nutrient components across different years. The results showed that the amount of litter from 2005 to 2015 was 7704–8818 kg·hm−2, and the order of magnitude was: 2005 (normal year) > 2015 (extreme snow and ice weather interference) > 2010 (extreme drought weather interference); the composition mainly included branches, leaves, fruit (flowers), and other components (bark, moss, lichen, etc.), of which the proportion of leaves was the largest, accounting for 41.70%–61.52%; The monthly changes and total amounts in different years exhibited single or double peak changes, and the monthly litter components in different years showed significant seasonality. In this study, the nutrient content of litter was higher than that of litter branches each year. The total amount of litter and the nutrient concentration of each component are C, Ca, N, K, Mg, S, and P, from large to small. The order of nutrient return in different years was the same as that of litter, and the returns of nutrients in litter leaves were greater than that of litter branches. The ratio of nutrient returns of litter and litter branches from 2005 to 2010 was 2.03, 1.23, and 3.69, respectively. The research shows that the litter decreased correspondingly under the extreme weather disturbance, and the impact of the extreme dry weather disturbance was greater than that of the extreme ice and snow weather disturbance. However, the evergreen broad-leaved forest in the study area recovers well after being disturbed. The annual litter amount and nutrient return amount is similar to that of evergreen broad-leaved forests in the same latitude and normal years in other subtropical regions. The decomposition rate and seasonal dynamics of litter nutrients are not greatly affected by extreme weather. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in Forests)
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14 pages, 2231 KiB  
Article
Effects of Two Management Practices on Monthly Litterfall in a Cypress Plantation
by Yulian Yang, Honglin Yang, Qiang Wang, Qing Dong, Jiaping Yang, Lijun Wu, Chengming You, Jinyao Hu and Qinggui Wu
Forests 2022, 13(10), 1581; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13101581 - 27 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1228
Abstract
Optimizing stand structure can enhance plantation forest ecosystem service functions by regulating litterfall patterns; however, the effects of close-to-nature management on litterfall production remain unclear. Here, we selected three cypress (Cupressus funebris) plantations, including one using the practice of strip filling [...] Read more.
Optimizing stand structure can enhance plantation forest ecosystem service functions by regulating litterfall patterns; however, the effects of close-to-nature management on litterfall production remain unclear. Here, we selected three cypress (Cupressus funebris) plantations, including one using the practice of strip filling (SF), one using the practice of ecological thinning (ET), and one pure cypress plantation without any artificial interference. The production of total litterfall and its components (leaf, twig, reproductive organ and miscellaneous litterfall) were investigated monthly over one year from September 2019 to August 2020. Compared with that of the pure plantation, the total annual litterfall production of the SF and ET plantations decreased significantly by 10.8% and 36.44%, respectively. The annual production of leaf and reproductive organ litter was similar to that of total litterfall, but that of twig and miscellaneous litter was higher in the SF and ET plantations than in the pure plantation. Moreover, total, leaf and reproductive organ litterfall production displayed unimodal dynamics regardless of plantation, although the peaks of reproductive organ litter production occurred in different months. In contrast, the production of twig litter showed bimodal dynamics in the pure plantation, while unimodal and irregular dynamics were observed in the plantations with ET and SF, respectively. Additionally, insignificant differences in the isometric growth index of leaf litter and total litterfall were observed. The allometric indices of twig litterfall versus total litterfall, reproductive organ litterfall versus total litterfall, and leaf litterfall versus twig litterfall were higher in the plantations with SF and ET than in the pure plantation. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that diameter at breast height and air temperature were the most important factors shaping the annual and monthly production of litterfall, respectively. These results provide efficient data to support the rectification of the material circulation of cypress plantations and their future management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in Forests)
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13 pages, 3711 KiB  
Article
Monthly Dynamical Patterns of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Resorption Efficiencies and C:N:P Stoichiometric Ratios in Castanopsis carlesii (Hemsl.) Hayata and Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. Plantations
by Yaoyi Zhang, Jing Yang, Xinyu Wei, Xiangyin Ni and Fuzhong Wu
Forests 2022, 13(9), 1458; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13091458 - 10 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1242
Abstract
Trees can resorb nutrients to preserve and reuse them before leaves fall, which could efficiently adapt to environmental changes. However, the nutrient requirements of trees in different months with seasonal climate changes are often neglected. In this study, we selected plantations of an [...] Read more.
Trees can resorb nutrients to preserve and reuse them before leaves fall, which could efficiently adapt to environmental changes. However, the nutrient requirements of trees in different months with seasonal climate changes are often neglected. In this study, we selected plantations of an evergreen broadleaf tree (Castanopsis carlesii (Hemsl.) Hayata) and a coniferous tree (Cunninghamia lanceolate (Lamb.) Hook.) in the subtropics. The monthly dynamics of leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) resorption efficiencies and C:N:P stoichiometric ratios were checked along a growing season from April to October 2021. Trees in both plantations exhibited efficient N and P resorption but with significant monthly variations. The N and P resorption efficiencies in the Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation ranged from 34.26% to 56.28% and 41.01% to 54.85%, respectively, and were highest in September. In contrast, N and P resorption efficiencies in the Castanopsis carlesii plantation ranged from 11.25% to 34.23% and 49.22% to 58.72%, respectively, and were highest in July. Compared with the Cunninghamia lanceolata, the C:N of the Castanopsis carlesii plantation was significantly lower, while its C:P was significantly higher in May and September. The Castanopsis carlesii plantation was strongly limited by P (the N:P ratios in mature leaves were higher than 20), whereas the Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation might be limited by both N and P (the N:P ratios in mature leaves were between 10 and 20). In addition, the statistical analyses revealed that temperature and precipitation were significantly associated with N and P resorption efficiencies, but the relationships were controlled by forest types. These findings highlight that efficient resorption of N and P may be beneficial in regulating nutrient limitation and balance in subtropical forest ecosystems. These results contribute to the understanding of N and P utilization strategies of trees and provide a theoretical basis for vegetation management in the subtropics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in Forests)
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14 pages, 2690 KiB  
Article
The Contributions of Soil Fauna to the Accumulation of Humic Substances during Litter Humification in Cold Forests
by Yu Tan, Kaijun Yang, Zhenfeng Xu, Li Zhang, Han Li, Chengming You and Bo Tan
Forests 2022, 13(8), 1235; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13081235 - 04 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1415
Abstract
Litter humification is an essential process of soil carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems, but the relationship between soil fauna and humic substances has not been well understood. Therefore, a field litterbag experiment with manipulation of soil fauna was carried out in different soil [...] Read more.
Litter humification is an essential process of soil carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems, but the relationship between soil fauna and humic substances has not been well understood. Therefore, a field litterbag experiment with manipulation of soil fauna was carried out in different soil frozen seasons over one year in cold forests. The foliar litter of four dominated tree species was selected as Birch (Betula albosinensis), Fir (Abies fargesii var. faxoniana), Willow (Salix paraplesia), and Cypress (Juniperus saltuaria). We studied the contribution of soil fauna to the accumulation of humic substances (including humic acid and fulvic acid) and humification degree as litter humification proceeding. The results showed that soil fauna with litter property and environmental factor jointly determined the accumulation of humic substances (humic acid and fulvic acid) and humification degree of four litters. After one year of incubation, the contribution rates of soil fauna to the accumulation of humic substances were 109.06%, 71.48%, 11.22%, and −44.43% for the litter of fir, cypress, birch, and willow, respectively. Compared with other stages, both growing season and leaf falling stage could be favorable to the contributions of soil fauna to the accumulation of humic substances in the litter of birch, fir, and cypress rather than in willow litter. In contrast, the contribution rates of soil fauna to humification degree were −49.20%, −7.63%, −13.27%, and 12.66% for the litter of fir, cypress, birch, and willow, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated that temperature changes at different sampling stages and litter quality exhibited dominant roles in the contributions of soil fauna on the accumulation of humus and litter humifiaction degree in the cold forests. Overall, the present results highlight that soil fauna could play vital roles in the process of litter humification and those strengths varied among species and seasons. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in Forests)
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14 pages, 2273 KiB  
Article
Effects of Forest Gaps on Abies faxoniana Rehd. Leaf Litter Mass Loss and Carbon Release along an Elevation Gradient in a Subalpine Forest
by Han Li, Ting Du, Yulian Chen, Yu Zhang, Yulian Yang, Jiaping Yang, Qing Dong, Li Zhang and Qinggui Wu
Forests 2022, 13(8), 1201; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13081201 - 29 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1321
Abstract
Changes in the microenvironment induced by forest gaps may affect litter decomposition, yet it is unclear how the gap effects respond to altitudinal and seasonal differences. Here, a four-year litterbag decomposition experiment along an elevation gradient (3000, 3300, 3600 m) was conducted in [...] Read more.
Changes in the microenvironment induced by forest gaps may affect litter decomposition, yet it is unclear how the gap effects respond to altitudinal and seasonal differences. Here, a four-year litterbag decomposition experiment along an elevation gradient (3000, 3300, 3600 m) was conducted in an Abies faxoniana Rehd. subalpine forest of southwestern China, to assess the potential seasonal effects of forest gaps (large: ≈250 m2, middle: ≈125 m2, small: ≈40 m2 vs. closed canopy) on litter mass loss and carbon release at different elevations. We found that the A. faxoniana litter mass loss and carbon release reached 50~53 and 58~64% after four years of decomposition, respectively. Non-growing seasons (November to April) had a greater decline than the growing seasons (May to October). Litter in the forest gaps exhibited significantly higher mass loss than that under the closed canopy, and the decomposition constant (k) exhibited a gradually declining trend from large gaps, middle gaps, small gaps to closed canopy. Moreover, more significant differences of gap on both carbon content and release were observed at the 3600 m site than the other two elevations. Our findings indicate that (i) a rather high mass loss and carbon release during the decomposition of A. faxoniana litter was observed at high elevations of the subalpine forest subjected to low temperatures in the non-growing seasons and (ii) there were stimulative effects of forest gaps on litter mass loss and carbon release in early decomposition, especially in the non-growing seasons, driven by fewer freeze–thaw cycles when compared to the closed canopy, which diminished at the end of the experiment. The results will provide crucial ecological data for further understanding how opening gaps as a main regeneration method would induce changes in carbon cycling in subalpine forest ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in Forests)
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11 pages, 1470 KiB  
Article
Impact of Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) Expansion into Japanese Cedar Plantations on Soil Fungal and Bacterial Community Compositions
by Haifu Fang, Yuanqiu Liu, Jian Bai, Aixin Li, Wenping Deng, Tianjun Bai, Xiaojun Liu, Meng Lai, Yan Feng, Jun Zhang, Qin Zou, Nansheng Wu and Ling Zhang
Forests 2022, 13(8), 1190; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13081190 - 27 Jul 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1683
Abstract
Moso bamboo expansion is common across the world. The expansion of moso bamboo into adjacent forests altered plant and soil characteristics. While the community structure of soil fungi and bacteria plays an important role in maintaining the function of forest ecosystems, changes in [...] Read more.
Moso bamboo expansion is common across the world. The expansion of moso bamboo into adjacent forests altered plant and soil characteristics. While the community structure of soil fungi and bacteria plays an important role in maintaining the function of forest ecosystems, changes in microbial community compositions remain unclear, limiting our understanding of ecological process changes following moso bamboo expansion. To explore changes in the community structure of soil fungi and bacteria in Japanese cedar plantations experiencing expansion of moso bamboo, Illumina NovaSeq high-throughput sequencing technology was used to elucidate changes in soil microbial communities as well as alteration in litter and soil chemical characteristics. The results showed that moso bamboo expansion decreased content of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, litter carbon, and the carbon to nitrogen ratio as well as the number of bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at the genus level, the α-diversity Simple index, and the abundance of Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Gemmatimonadetes. Moso bamboo expansion also increased soil NH4+-N, pH, while it decreased fungi OTUs at the phyla, class, order, family, and genus level. The expansion of moso bamboo into Japanese cedar substantially altered soil fungal and bacterial community structure, which might have implications for changes in the ecosystem element-cycling process. In the forest ecosystem and expansion management of moso bamboo, the types and different expansion stages of moso bamboo should be paid attention to, in the assessment of ecological effects and soil microbial structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in Forests)
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14 pages, 3101 KiB  
Article
Effects of Habitat Differences on Microbial Communities during Litter Decomposing in a Subtropical Forest
by Hongrong Guo, Fuzhong Wu, Xiaoyue Zhang, Wentao Wei, Ling Zhu, Ruobing Wu and Dingyi Wang
Forests 2022, 13(6), 919; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13060919 - 13 Jun 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1642
Abstract
The differences between aquatic and terrestrial habitats could change microbial community composition and regulate litter decomposition in a subtropical forest, but the linkage remains uncertain. Using microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), the litter decomposition associated with microbial organisms was monitored to characterize the [...] Read more.
The differences between aquatic and terrestrial habitats could change microbial community composition and regulate litter decomposition in a subtropical forest, but the linkage remains uncertain. Using microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), the litter decomposition associated with microbial organisms was monitored to characterize the differences of microbial communities in the forest floor, headwater stream, and intermittent stream. Habitat type did not significantly affect the concentrations of total PLFA. However, microbial community composition (fungi, G+ bacteria, and eukaryote) was significantly affected by the microenvironment among habitats. Compared with which in headwater stream, more individual PLFAs were identified in the natural forest floor and the intermittent stream during the whole decomposition period. The differences in individual PLFA concentrations were reflected in the forest floor and aquatic system in the early stage of litter decomposition, but they mainly reflected in the headwater stream and the intermittent stream in the later stage of litter decomposition. We linked the relationships between microbial community and litter decomposition and found that communities of decomposers drive differences in litter decomposition rate among habitats. Intriguingly, the microbial community showed the greatest correlation with the decomposition rate of litter in streams. These findings could contribute to the understanding of habitats difference on the microbial community during litter decomposition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in Forests)
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14 pages, 2304 KiB  
Article
Alpine Litter Humification and Its Response to Reduced Snow Cover: Can More Carbon Be Sequestered in Soils?
by Dingyi Wang, Xiangyin Ni, Hongrong Guo and Wenyuan Dai
Forests 2022, 13(6), 897; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13060897 - 09 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1594
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 [...] Read more.
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. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in Forests)
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13 pages, 2425 KiB  
Article
Acid Hydrolysable Components Released from Four Decomposing Litter in an Alpine Forest in Sichuan, China
by Shu Liao, Kai Yue, Xiangyin Ni and Fuzhong Wu
Forests 2022, 13(6), 876; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13060876 - 03 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1577
Abstract
Acid hydrolysable components have been thought to release from plant litter at early periods of decomposition and to be sensitive to hydrological change. Variations in snow depth and timing may alter the release of acid hydrolysable components from decomposing litter in seasonally snow-covered [...] Read more.
Acid hydrolysable components have been thought to release from plant litter at early periods of decomposition and to be sensitive to hydrological change. Variations in snow depth and timing may alter the release of acid hydrolysable components from decomposing litter in seasonally snow-covered ecosystems. Here, we measured the release of acid hydrolyzable components from four foliar litters (fir, cypress, larch and birch) in deep and shallow snow plots during winter (snow formation, snow coverage and snowmelt stages) and growing seasons in an alpine forest from 2012 to 2016. We found that the content of acid hydrolysable components was 16–21% in fresh litter across species, and only 4–5% of these components remained in the litter after four years of decomposition when 53–66% of litter mass was lost. The content of acid hydrolysable components greatly decreased within 41 days and during the growing seasons of the fourth year of decomposition, suggesting that acid hydrolysable components in plant litter are not only released at early periods but also at a very late period during litter decay. However, the content of acid hydrolysable components increased significantly at snowmelt stages. Reduced snow cover increased the content and remaining level of acid hydrolysable components during the four years of decomposition by altering leaching, microbial biomass and stoichiometry. We propose that more effective partitioning of chemical fractions should be incorporated to distinguish the carbon and nutrient release during litter decomposition within a complex context of the changing environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in Forests)
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11 pages, 1167 KiB  
Article
Tree Fresh Leaf- and Twig-Leached Dissolved Organic Matter Quantity and Biodegradability in Subtropical Plantations in China
by Jia-Wen Xu, Jing-Hao Ji, Dong-Nan Hu, Zhi Zheng and Rong Mao
Forests 2022, 13(6), 833; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13060833 - 27 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1710
Abstract
Extreme weather events often cause the input of fresh plant tissues into soils in forests. However, the interspecific patterns of tree fresh plant tissue-leached dissolved organic matter (DOM) characteristics are poorly understood. In this study, we collected fresh leaves and twigs of two [...] Read more.
Extreme weather events often cause the input of fresh plant tissues into soils in forests. However, the interspecific patterns of tree fresh plant tissue-leached dissolved organic matter (DOM) characteristics are poorly understood. In this study, we collected fresh leaves and twigs of two broadleaf trees (Liquidambar formosana and Schima superba) and two coniferous trees (Pinus massoniana and Pinus elliottii) in subtropical plantations in China, and measured tree fresh tissue-leached DOM quantity and biodegradability. The interspecific patterns of fresh plant tissue-leached DOM production varied with organ types. Broadleaf tree leaves leached greater amounts of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved total nitrogen (DTN), and dissolved total phosphorus (DTP) than coniferous tree leaves, but an opposite pattern of DOC and DTN productions was observed between broadleaf and coniferous tree twigs. Regardless of tree species, leaves often leached greater quantities of DOC, DTN, and DTP than twigs. For both leaves and twigs, broadleaf tree tissue-leached DOM had greater aromaticity and lower biodegradability than coniferous tree tissue-leached DOM. Moreover, leaf-leached DOM had greater aromaticity and lower biodegradability than twig-leached DOM. In addition, DOM biodegradability negatively correlated with the initial aromaticity and DOC:DTN ratio, despite no relationship between DOM biodegradability and DOC:DTP ratio. These findings highlight the pivotal roles of leaf habit and organ type in regulating fresh tree tissue-leached DOM production and biodegradability and reveal that the substantial variations of fresh tissue-leached DOM biodegradability are co-driven by DOM aromaticity and N availability in subtropical plantations in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in Forests)
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21 pages, 2600 KiB  
Article
Seven-Year Changes in Bulk Density Following Forest Harvesting and Machine Trafficking in Alberta, Canada
by David H. McNabb and Andrei Startsev
Forests 2022, 13(4), 553; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13040553 - 31 Mar 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1904
Abstract
Processes responsible for natural recovery of compacted forest soils are poorly understood, making estimating their recovery problematic. Bulk density was measured over 7 years at nine boreal forest sites in Alberta, Canada, where harvest-only and three skidding treatments were installed (~10,000 samples). Air [...] Read more.
Processes responsible for natural recovery of compacted forest soils are poorly understood, making estimating their recovery problematic. Bulk density was measured over 7 years at nine boreal forest sites in Alberta, Canada, where harvest-only and three skidding treatments were installed (~10,000 samples). Air and soil temperatures, soil moisture and redox potential, and snow depth were also measured on the harvest-only and adjacent seven-cycle skid trail. Significant increases in bulk density occurred when the soil water potential was wetter than −25 kPa. After 1 year, an additional significant increase in bulk density of 0.03 Mg m−3 was measured across all treatments, soil depths, and sites. The increase is attributed to the soil mechanics process of rebound and disruption of soil biological processes. By year 7, the secondary increase in bulk density had recovered in trafficked soil, but not on the harvest-only area. Some soil freezing had no effect on bulk density, which was moderated by the depth of the snowpack. The array of soil physical processes, soil texture, water supply, mechanics of water freezing in soil, and weather required to make soil freezing an effective decompacting agent did not occur. The shrink–swell process was not relevant because the soils remained wet. As a result, the bulk density of the trafficked soil failed to recover after 7 years to a depth of 20 cm. The freeze–thaw process as a decompaction agent is far more complex than commonly assumed, and its effectiveness cannot be assumed because soil temperatures below 0 °C are measured. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in Forests)
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18 pages, 3957 KiB  
Article
The Changes in Soil Microbial Communities across a Subalpine Forest Successional Series
by Zhihui Wang, Yi Bai, Jianfeng Hou, Fei Li, Xuqing Li, Rui Cao, Yuyue Deng, Huaibin Wang, Yurui Jiang and Wanqin Yang
Forests 2022, 13(2), 289; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13020289 - 11 Feb 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2104
Abstract
Knowledge regarding changes in soil microbial communities with forest succession is vital to understand soil microbial community shifts under global change scenarios. The composition and diversity of soil microbial communities across a subalpine forest successional series were therefore investigated in the Wanglang National [...] Read more.
Knowledge regarding changes in soil microbial communities with forest succession is vital to understand soil microbial community shifts under global change scenarios. The composition and diversity of soil microbial communities across a subalpine forest successional series were therefore investigated in the Wanglang National Nature Reserve on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. The calculated diversity indices of soil bacteria (8.598 to 9.791 for Shannon-Wiener, 0.997 to 0.974 for Simpson, 4131 to 4974 for abundance-based coverage estimator (ACE) and 3007 to 3511 for Species richness indices), and ACE (1323 to 921) and Species richness (1251 to 879) indices of soil fungi decreased from initial to terminal succession stages, but Shannon-Wiener and Simpson of soil fungi indices varied slightly with forest succession. Meanwhile, the composition and structure of soil microbial communities varied markedly with forest succession. The relative abundance of the dominant bacterial phyla (Acidobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria) and fungal taxa (Mortierellomycota, Rozellomycota and unassigned phylum clade GS01) varied considerably with forest succession. However, regardless of successional stage, Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria dominated soil bacterial communities and Ascomycota and Basidiomycota dominated soil fungal communities. Moreover, the changes in soil microbial diversity with forest succession were significantly affected by soil pH, soil organic carbon, soil temperature, altitude, and non-woody debris stock. Importantly, soil pH was the dominant driver of soil microbial community shift with forest succession. In conclusion, the forests at different succession stages not only conserve same microbial populations, but also nurse unique microbial diversity across the forest succession series; and the biodiversity of soil bacterial and fungal communities has differential responses to forest succession. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in Forests)
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12 pages, 1955 KiB  
Article
Variability in Soil Macronutrient Stocks across a Chronosequence of Masson Pine Plantations
by Jie He, Quanhou Dai, Fengwei Xu, Youjin Yan and Xudong Peng
Forests 2022, 13(1), 17; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13010017 - 23 Dec 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2363
Abstract
Plantations play a vital role in the global nutrient cycle because they have large stocks of soil macronutrients. However, the impacts of plantations on soil macronutrient stocks combined with stand age and soil physicochemical properties have not been well quantified. We compared soil [...] Read more.
Plantations play a vital role in the global nutrient cycle because they have large stocks of soil macronutrients. However, the impacts of plantations on soil macronutrient stocks combined with stand age and soil physicochemical properties have not been well quantified. We compared soil macronutrient stocks at soil depths of 0−20 and 20−40 cm across a 7-, 14-, 25-, and 30-year chronosequence of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) plantations. The results showed that the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) stocks first increased and then decreased with stand age. The highest N and P stocks were observed in the 14-year-old plantation, and the 25-year-old plantation displayed the highest K stock. The C, N, and P stocks declined with increasing soil depth across all sites, whereas the reverse trend was found in the K stock. Carbon stocks were highest for all plantations, followed by the K, N, and P stocks. Plantation soils exhibited a higher C:P ratio and a lower P:K ratio at various soil depths. The dominant controlling factors for the soil macronutrient stocks varied significantly at different stand ages and soil depths according to statistical analysis. For the total soil system, the C stock was affected by the available nutrients, organic matter, and stoichiometry; the available nutrients and organic matter were the determinant factors of the N and P stocks. Aggregate stability could be the primary parameter affecting the K stock. Organic matter explained most of the variation in soil macronutrient stocks, followed by the P:K ratio and available K. Collectively, our results suggest that the response of soil macronutrient stocks to stand age and soil depth will be dependent on different soil physicochemical properties, and P and K may be important limiting factors in Masson pine plantation ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in Forests)
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15 pages, 2437 KiB  
Article
Budget of Plant Litter and Litter Carbon in the Subalpine Forest Streams
by Jianfeng Hou, Fei Li, Zhihui Wang, Xuqing Li and Wanqin Yang
Forests 2021, 12(12), 1764; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f12121764 - 13 Dec 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1980
Abstract
Investigations on the budget of plant litter and litter carbon in forest streams can provide a key scientific basis for understanding the biogeochemical linkages of terrestrial–aquatic ecosystems and managing forest catchments. To understand the biogeochemical linkages among mountain forests, riparian vegetation, and aquatic [...] Read more.
Investigations on the budget of plant litter and litter carbon in forest streams can provide a key scientific basis for understanding the biogeochemical linkages of terrestrial–aquatic ecosystems and managing forest catchments. To understand the biogeochemical linkages among mountain forests, riparian vegetation, and aquatic ecosystems, the changes in litter input and output from the subalpine streams with stream characteristics and critical periods were investigated in an ecologically important subalpine coniferous forest catchment in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The annual litter input to the stream was 20.14 g m−2 and ranged from 2.47 to 103.13 g m−2 for 15 streams during the one-year investigation. Simultaneously, the litter carbon input to the stream was 8.61 mg m−2 and ranged from 0.11 to 40.57 mg m−2. Meanwhile, the annual litter output varied from 0.02 to 22.30 g m−2, and the average value was 0.56 g m−2. Correspondingly, the litter carbon output varied from 0.01 to 1.51 mg m−2, and the average value was 0.16 mg m−2. Furthermore, the average ratio of litter carbon input to output was 270.01. The maximum and minimum values were observed in the late growing season and the snowmelt season, respectively. Additionally, seasonal variations in temperature, together with the stream length, dominated the input of litter and litter carbon to the stream, while the precipitation, temperature, water level, and sediment depth largely determined their output. Briefly, the seasonal dynamics of litter and litter carbon were dominated by stream characteristics and precipitation as well as temperature patterns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon and Nutrient Transfer via Above and Belowground Litter in Forests)
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