Influence of elevated UV-B radiation on leaf litter chemistry and subsequent decomposition in humid subtropical China

• Published in: Journal of soils and sediments Vol. 13; no. 5; pp. 846 - 853
• Main Authors: Song, Xinzhang, Zhang, Huiling, Jiang, Hong, Donaldson, Lloyd A., Wang, Hailong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.05.2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biogeochemistry; Chemistry; Decomposition; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Physics; Humid areas; Indigenous species; Leaf litter; Leaves; Plant growth; Plant species; Plant tissues; Sec 1 • Soil Organic Matter Dynamics and Nutrient Cycling • Research Article; Soil Science & Conservation; Soils; Statistical analysis; Ultraviolet radiation; China, People's Rep; Lignin; Subtropical zone; Litter decomposition; Litter chemistry; Elevated UV-B radiation
• ISSN: 1439-0108; 1614-7480
• DOI: 10.1007/s11368-013-0661-y

Purpose Exposure to elevated ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation during plant growth may influence plant tissue chemistry and subsequent decomposition. We conducted a 22-month decomposition experiment to evaluate the effects of UV-B radiation on litter chemistry and subsequent decomposition in humid subtropical forest systems. Materials and methods Leaf litters were derived from five native tree species, including Cunninghamia lanceolata , Cinnamomum camphora , Schima superba , Cyclobalanopsis glauca , and Elaeocarpus sylvestris , which grew under ambient and elevated UV-B radiation treatments for 1 year. Result and discussion UV-B treatment significantly altered the original C, N, P, K, and lignin content and ratios of C/N, lignin/N, and C/P of leaf litter of five species but just slightly accelerated decomposition at variable degree from 2 % to 13 %. Statistical analyses showed litter species, but not UV-B treatment, had significant effect on decomposition. Only initial lignin content was significantly related to the decay rate. Abundant precipitation and warm temperature in subtropical China maybe weaken or even mask the importance of litter chemistry change resulted from UV-B radiation to decomposition especially in early decomposition stage. Conclusions Exposure to supplemental UV-B level induced significant changes of the initial leaf litter chemistry but did not accelerate significantly subsequent decomposition of each species in humid subtropical areas of China at least in the early phase. The interspecific differences in litter chemistry of the five species showed greater effect on decomposition than elevated UV-B radiation at the early decomposition stage.