From leaf traits to agroecosystem functioning: effects of changing resource use strategy during silphium domestication on litter quality and decomposition rate
Aims We asked if structural and chemical changes in leaf traits, brought about by early domestication in perennial Silphium integrifolium Michx. (Asteraceae), have influenced litter quantity and quality, and decomposition rates. This process is critical to determine how an ecosystem recycles nutrien...
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Published in | Plant and soil Vol. 471; no. 1-2; pp. 655 - 667 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Cham
Springer International Publishing
01.02.2022
Springer Springer Nature B.V |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Aims
We asked if structural and chemical changes in leaf traits, brought about by early domestication in perennial
Silphium integrifolium
Michx. (Asteraceae), have influenced litter quantity and quality, and decomposition rates. This process is critical to determine how an ecosystem recycles nutrients, renews soil fertility and sequesters C in the soil.
Methods
We compared in a field experiment green and senescent leaves traits of Improved and Wild accessions of
Silphium
. We performed a laboratory decomposition experiment to determine the decomposition rate, and the change in litter quality over time.
Results
Improved accessions of
Silphium
produced almost two times more litter than the Wild, which should, in turn, contribute to a higher C input to the soil; however, this litter decomposed faster than that of wild types, and thus had shorter C residence time. Slower decay of litter has been recommended for C sequestration in erodible lands and semi-arid zones, also favoring nutrient retention and slower release of nutrients. The key driver of the decomposition process was resin content and not the usual chemical predictors of litter quality (i.e. N content and C/N ratio). Wild-type litter had thicker leaves with higher resin content, and lower C:N ratio.
Conclusions
Domestication changed litter quality affecting the rate of decomposition and potentially C cycling in the agroecosystem. Improved accessions contributed with more C input litter but with lower quality. The lower resin content of the Improved accessions reduced the litter residence time of C due to faster rate of decomposition. |
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ISSN: | 0032-079X 1573-5036 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s11104-021-05224-0 |