Effects of mixed litter with different degrees of decomposition on the decomposition characteristics of semi-arid grassland in northern Shanxi

doi:10.11686/cyxb2023082

Abstract

Abstract:

Plant residues that are decomposed to varying degrees are widely distributed in the litter layer of semi-arid grassland. In this study， a field litter bag experiment was conducted to determine the effect of the degree of decomposition of litter at burial on the overall decomposition process. Decomposition trajectories of fresh and aged litter samples and samples made up of a mixture of fresh and aged litter from three native plant species （Stipa bungeana， Artemisia argyi， and Artemisia gmelinii） that grow in semi-arid grassland of northern Shanxi were measured. The treatments were fresh litter （L_Fresh）， aged litter （L_Aged）， and an equal-ratio mixture of fresh and aged litter （L_Mix）. It was found that the mass remaining percentage of mixed litter with different degrees of decomposition decreased with the increase of decomposition time. It exhibited highest interaction when the plant litter decomposed after 335 days. The observed values of the mass remaining percentage in the S. bungeana L_Mix treatment and the A. gmelinii L_Mix treatment were 5.12% and 4.68% lower than the expected values， respectively， showing a synergistic effect， while the A. argyi L_Mix treatment showed an additive effect. In addition， the S. bungeana L_Mix treatment promoted nitrogen release and inhibited cellulose decomposition. The A. gmelinii L_Mix treatment promoted carbon release and lignin decomposition. In conclusion， a mixed litter comprising both fresh and aged material with different degrees of decomposition changed the decomposition rate and promoted nutrient release， thus affecting nutrient cycling in the studied grassland ecosystem.

Key words: litter decomposition, grassland, mixing effect, nutrient release

Wen-jie LU, Jin-yun QI, Cong WU, Ya-hong JING. Effects of mixed litter with different degrees of decomposition on the decomposition characteristics of semi-arid grassland in northern Shanxi[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2023, 32(12): 47-57.

Figures/Tables 8

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化学组分 Chemical composition	针茅凋落物S. bungeana litter		艾蒿凋落物A. argyi litter		铁杆蒿凋落物A. gmelinii litter
化学组分 Chemical composition	新鲜Fresh	半分解Aged	新鲜Fresh	半分解Aged	新鲜Fresh	半分解Aged
C （g·kg^-1）	455.70±5.40	415.59±17.17	419.23±9.85	442.35±10.33	469.01±31.68	469.82±2.43
N （g·kg^-1）	7.46±0.07	7.38±0.01	22.35±0.02**	12.31±0.04	9.23±0.01**	8.70±0.04
纤维素Cellulose （g·kg^-1）	346.64±1.52**	309.87±6.27	210.91±2.95**	239.65±2.81	272.37±4.85**	349.94±2.35
木质素Lignin （g·kg^-1）	36.05±0.69**	20.79±1.45	57.73±5.05**	99.10±6.05	132.45±1.10**	168.27±1.42
C/N	61.09±0.27	56.30±2.40	18.76±0.45**	35.95±0.96	50.80±3.41	54.00±0.10
木质素/N Lignin/N	4.83±0.13**	2.82±0.20	2.58±0.22**	8.06±0.52	14.35±0.12**	19.34±0.14

化学组分 Chemical composition	针茅凋落物S. bungeana litter		艾蒿凋落物A. argyi litter		铁杆蒿凋落物A. gmelinii litter
化学组分 Chemical composition	新鲜Fresh	半分解Aged	新鲜Fresh	半分解Aged	新鲜Fresh	半分解Aged
C （g·kg^-1）	455.70±5.40	415.59±17.17	419.23±9.85	442.35±10.33	469.01±31.68	469.82±2.43
N （g·kg^-1）	7.46±0.07	7.38±0.01	22.35±0.02**	12.31±0.04	9.23±0.01**	8.70±0.04
纤维素Cellulose （g·kg^-1）	346.64±1.52**	309.87±6.27	210.91±2.95**	239.65±2.81	272.37±4.85**	349.94±2.35
木质素Lignin （g·kg^-1）	36.05±0.69**	20.79±1.45	57.73±5.05**	99.10±6.05	132.45±1.10**	168.27±1.42
C/N	61.09±0.27	56.30±2.40	18.76±0.45**	35.95±0.96	50.80±3.41	54.00±0.10
木质素/N Lignin/N	4.83±0.13**	2.82±0.20	2.58±0.22**	8.06±0.52	14.35±0.12**	19.34±0.14

时间Time （d）	项目Item	针茅混合物L_Mix-Sb	艾蒿混合物L_Mix-Aa	铁杆蒿混合物L_Mix-Ag
0	期望值Expected value	100.00±0.00	100.00±0.00	100.00±0.00
0	实测值Observed value	100.00±0.00	100.00±0.00	100.00±0.00
179	期望值Expected value	94.73±0.73	92.74±0.24	97.09±0.29
179	实测值Observed value	95.82±0.02	92.25±0.55	96.00±0.63
221	期望值Expected value	90.87±1.03	83.92±1.00	94.32±0.11
221	实测值Observed value	91.55±1.00	83.98±1.82	93.88±0.56
256	期望值Expected value	81.38±0.50	71.63±0.78	89.64±0.70
256	实测值Observed value	82.55±0.90	70.00±0.26	88.12±0.52
293	期望值Expected value	66.74±0.78	49.38±0.03	76.36±0.30
293	实测值Observed value	62.65±0.47**	51.10±0.67*	75.33±0.76
335	期望值Expected value	59.59±0.68	39.84±1.27	75.37±1.40
335	实测值Observed value	54.47±0.70**	43.57±1.50	70.69±0.35*

时间Time （d）	项目Item	针茅混合物L_Mix-Sb	艾蒿混合物L_Mix-Aa	铁杆蒿混合物L_Mix-Ag
0	期望值Expected value	100.00±0.00	100.00±0.00	100.00±0.00
0	实测值Observed value	100.00±0.00	100.00±0.00	100.00±0.00
179	期望值Expected value	94.73±0.73	92.74±0.24	97.09±0.29
179	实测值Observed value	95.82±0.02	92.25±0.55	96.00±0.63
221	期望值Expected value	90.87±1.03	83.92±1.00	94.32±0.11
221	实测值Observed value	91.55±1.00	83.98±1.82	93.88±0.56
256	期望值Expected value	81.38±0.50	71.63±0.78	89.64±0.70
256	实测值Observed value	82.55±0.90	70.00±0.26	88.12±0.52
293	期望值Expected value	66.74±0.78	49.38±0.03	76.36±0.30
293	实测值Observed value	62.65±0.47**	51.10±0.67*	75.33±0.76
335	期望值Expected value	59.59±0.68	39.84±1.27	75.37±1.40
335	实测值Observed value	54.47±0.70**	43.57±1.50	70.69±0.35*

时间 Time （d）	项目 Item	碳/氮C/N			木质素/N Lignin/N
时间 Time （d）	项目 Item	针茅S. bungeana	艾蒿A. argyi	铁杆蒿A. gmelinii	针茅S. bungeana	艾蒿A. argyi	铁杆蒿A. gmelinii
0	L_Fresh	61.90±0.27a	18.76±0.45c	50.80±3.41a	4.84±0.13a	2.58±0.22c	14.35±0.12c
	L_Aged	56.30±2.40a	35.95±0.96a	54.01±0.10a	2.82±0.20c	8.06±0.52a	19.34±0.14a
	L_Mix	58.70±1.25a	27.35±0.30b	52.40±1.69a	3.82±0.16b	5.32±0.23b	16.84±0.05b
	P	0.177	0.000	0.613	0.000	0.000	0.000
179	L_Fresh	49.26±5.32a	20.22±1.33c	36.90±0.47a	4.64±0.41a	3.98±0.47b	12.62±0.15b
	L_Aged	35.68±0.25b	34.04±1.58a	42.04±2.85a	3.19±0.18b	8.13±1.22a	17.55±0.28a
	L_Mix	44.94±1.71ab	25.02±0.62b	42.34±4.10a	4.02±0.17ab	4.25±0.30b	13.07±0.10b
	P	0.042	0.000	0.369	0.015	0.007	0.000
221	L_Fresh	46.25±0.32a	21.43±0.77b	30.58±1.11b	5.08±0.15a	3.64±0.47b	13.21±0.32c
	L_Aged	40.89±1.40b	34.48±1.61a	37.37±0.83a	3.91±0.15c	8.60±1.15a	19.38±0.55a
	L_Mix	47.15±0.45a	24.83±0.56b	32.50±1.47b	4.41±0.07b	4.98±0.31b	16.07±0.41b
	P	0.001	0.000	0.007	0.000	0.003	0.000
256	L_Fresh	49.29±0.64a	15.98±0.58c	29.82±1.25c	6.68±0.55a	1.54±0.18c	14.62±0.58c
	L_Aged	39.76±0.92b	29.53±1.04a	41.53±0.40a	4.60±0.17b	8.32±0.72a	20.53±0.30a
	L_Mix	41.30±1.05b	21.03±0.99b	33.35±0.88b	5.21±0.16b	4.51±0.83b	16.19±0.43b
	P	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.006	0.000	0.000
293	L_Fresh	31.76±0.16a	13.39±0.10c	32.15±1.84b	4.95±0.03a	1.84±0.04c	15.64±0.40b
	L_Aged	29.76±1.13a	26.09±0.68a	37.03±1.52a	4.71±0.01a	9.14±1.02a	18.52±0.95a
	L_Mix	30.45±1.42a	18.26±0.90b	31.61±0.17b	5.11±0.28a	5.46±0.90b	15.68±0.81b
	P	0.429	0.000	0.040	0.263	0.000	0.000
335	L_Fresh	29.93±0.81ab	11.96±0.06c	26.58±1.87c	4.33±0.20b	3.43±0.07c	14.32±0.02c
	L_Aged	27.46±0.26b	25.45±1.24a	39.05±0.53a	4.61±0.11ab	9.40±0.28a	21.11±0.37a
	L_Mix	31.41±1.21a	17.82±1.69b	32.03±0.94b	4.84±0.16a	5.94±0.40b	16.45±0.50b
	P	0.028	0.000	0.000	0.125	0.000	0.000