Mutual effects of fresh and semidecomposed litter from abandoned grasslands in the Loess Hilly Region during early mixed decomposition

doi:10.11686/cyxb2025294

Abstract

Abstract:

Fresh and semidecomposed litter usually coexist in grassland ecosystems. Because of the differences in chemical traits and colonizing microorganisms， their mixing might lead to significant mixed decomposition effects and therefore the two mutually affect the decomposition of the other， and possibly also nutrient cycling in the entire ecosystem. To verify whether these mutual effects indeed exist and to clarify the underlying enzymatic mechanism of these effects， fresh litter from Poa sphondylodes and from Stipa grandis， which are early withering species， were collected from a 27-year-old abandoned grassland for this study. In addition， semidecomposed litter from the same grassland was also collected and used as the comparison. These two types of litter were mixed to conduct a 150-day indoor simulated decomposition experiment at 20-25 ℃. During each stage of decomposition， different types of litter were separated， the overall decomposition rates of the given litter in mixture were calculated， and the nutrient release rates and lignin-degrading enzyme activities were measured. These parameters were then compared with those observed when the corresponding litter decomposed individually. Via these methods， the possible mutual effects between fresh and semidecomposed litter during mixed decomposition were evaluated， and the underlying mechanism clarified. The results indicated： 1） In general， fresh and semidecomposed litter both significantly accelerated the decomposition of the other， and these effects occurred at least during the late stage of the decomposition experiment （P<0.05）. 2） After 150 d of decomposition， P. sphondylodes litter and semidecomposed litter each significantly accelerated the C release of the other， while semidecomposed litter also significantly accelerated the N and P release of P. sphondylodes litter. S. grandis litter and semidecomposed litter significantly accelerated the C and P release of each other， whereas S. grandis litter also significantly accelerated the N release of semidecomposed litter （P<0.05）. 3） The total lignin-degrading enzyme activity of the litter was significantly positively correlated with its decomposition rate （P<0.05）. Semidecomposed litter significantly increased the total lignin-degrading enzyme activity of P. sphondylodes litter at the 30th day of decomposition， but had the opposite effect at the 150th day； However， it significantly increased the enzymatic activity of S. grandis litter at all mentioned stages （P<0.05）. Generally， mixed decomposition is beneficial for the decomposition of both fresh and semidecomposed litter， which might play crucial positive roles in nutrient cycling in grassland ecosystems.

Key words: mixed decomposition, fresh litter, semidecomposed layer, synergistic effects

Xiao-xi ZHANG, Qian-yi LIANG, Ze-qiang ZHANG, Yuan-yuan LUO, Li-ping LI, Ruo-xuan LI, Xin LIU, Bo HU. Mutual effects of fresh and semidecomposed litter from abandoned grasslands in the Loess Hilly Region during early mixed decomposition[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2026, 35(7): 58-67.

Figures/Tables 7

References 34

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混合形式Type of litter mixing	凋落物组分 Litter component	分解形式 Type of decomposition	分解速率 Decomposition rate （k）
Ⅰ	硬质早熟禾 P. sphondylodes	单独 Single	2.65±0.05*
	硬质早熟禾 P. sphondylodes	混合 Mixed	3.60±0.13
	半分解层 Semidecomposed	单独 Single	1.24±0.03
	半分解层 Semidecomposed	混合 Mixed	1.51±0.03
Ⅱ	针茅S. grandis	单独 Single	1.80±0.12*
	针茅S. grandis	混合 Mixed	2.40±0.06
	半分解层 Semidecomposed	单独 Single	1.24±0.05*
	半分解层 Semidecomposed	混合 Mixed	1.66±0.17

混合形式Type of litter mixing	凋落物组分 Litter component	分解形式 Type of decomposition	分解速率 Decomposition rate （k）
Ⅰ	硬质早熟禾 P. sphondylodes	单独 Single	2.65±0.05*
	硬质早熟禾 P. sphondylodes	混合 Mixed	3.60±0.13
	半分解层 Semidecomposed	单独 Single	1.24±0.03
	半分解层 Semidecomposed	混合 Mixed	1.51±0.03
Ⅱ	针茅S. grandis	单独 Single	1.80±0.12*
	针茅S. grandis	混合 Mixed	2.40±0.06
	半分解层 Semidecomposed	单独 Single	1.24±0.05*
	半分解层 Semidecomposed	混合 Mixed	1.66±0.17

混合形式 Type of litter mixing	凋落物组分 Litter component	分解形式 Type of decomposition	养分残留率Nutrient remaining rate
混合形式 Type of litter mixing	凋落物组分 Litter component	分解形式 Type of decomposition	碳C	氮N	磷P
Ⅰ	硬质早熟禾P. sphondylodes	单独Single	52.33±0.88*	109.67±1.33*	85.67±1.67*
	硬质早熟禾P. sphondylodes	混合Mixed	29.33±1.20	75.67±1.86	43.00±2.08
	半分解层Semidecomposed	单独Single	56.67±2.19*	147.00±3.51	86.67±3.33
	半分解层Semidecomposed	混合Mixed	46.67±0.67	136.00±3.51	80.00±4.16
Ⅱ	针茅S. grandis	单独Single	71.33±3.53*	97.67±5.78	72.67±4.37*
	针茅S. grandis	混合Mixed	60.67±2.03	91.33±3.38	67.67±0.88
	半分解层Semidecomposed	单独Single	56.67±2.19*	147.00±3.51*	86.67±3.33*
	半分解层Semidecomposed	混合Mixed	45.67±0.67	121.00±4.58	69.67±2.96

混合形式 Type of litter mixing	凋落物组分 Litter component	分解形式 Type of decomposition	养分残留率Nutrient remaining rate
混合形式 Type of litter mixing	凋落物组分 Litter component	分解形式 Type of decomposition	碳C	氮N	磷P
Ⅰ	硬质早熟禾P. sphondylodes	单独Single	52.33±0.88*	109.67±1.33*	85.67±1.67*
	硬质早熟禾P. sphondylodes	混合Mixed	29.33±1.20	75.67±1.86	43.00±2.08
	半分解层Semidecomposed	单独Single	56.67±2.19*	147.00±3.51	86.67±3.33
	半分解层Semidecomposed	混合Mixed	46.67±0.67	136.00±3.51	80.00±4.16
Ⅱ	针茅S. grandis	单独Single	71.33±3.53*	97.67±5.78	72.67±4.37*
	针茅S. grandis	混合Mixed	60.67±2.03	91.33±3.38	67.67±0.88
	半分解层Semidecomposed	单独Single	56.67±2.19*	147.00±3.51*	86.67±3.33*
	半分解层Semidecomposed	混合Mixed	45.67±0.67	121.00±4.58	69.67±2.96