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Sammanfattning

BackgroundNeedle litter chemistry and climate are major determinants of litter decomposition in forests, but their relative importance during the decomposition process remains largely unclear, particularly for single tree species.MethodsWe synthesized rate-regulating factors for long-term (maximum six years) decomposition of local Norway spruce (Picea abies) needle litter in a 13-site climatic gradient with mean annual temperatures ranging from -1.7 to 7.2 degrees C. Analyses were made for acid-unhydrolyzable residue (AUR), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and manganese (Mn) in all samplings. We investigated annual mass loss, using five categories of the decomposing litters.ResultsClimate had a minor and decreasing influence (> 40%) and only for the early stage and part of the late ones, up to c. 50% accumulated mass loss. The influence of needle litter chemistry was dominant and increased as decomposition proceeded, to be completely dominant in the very late stages. Of substrate-quality factors, AUR had a rate-hampering dominance, which increased as decomposition proceeded. We tracked significant influences also of P, K, Ca, and Mg in the early and late stages up to c. 50% accumulated mass loss and an effect of Mn in the late stage of decomposition.ConclusionUsing information from studies of element dynamics, we highlighted rate-enhancing influences and lack of influences for single elements. These new insights justify a clear need to integrate the varying roles of climate and needle litter chemistry into current biogeochemical models to obtain precise estimates of carbon and nutrient dynamics under changing climates.

Nyckelord

Annual mass loss; Decomposition stage; Acid-Unhydrolyzable Residue; Limiting elements; Nutrient cycling

Publicerad i

Plant and Soil
2025
Utgivare: SPRINGER

SLU författare

UKÄ forskningsämne

Markvetenskap

Publikationens identifierare

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07637-7

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/142702