Litter decomposition studies using mesh bags: spillage inaccuracies and the effects of repeated artificial drying

1974 ◽  
Vol 52 (10) ◽  
pp. 2157-2163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Suffling ◽  
David W. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Old Field ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Litter Bags ◽  
Litter Bag ◽  
Modified Method ◽  
Mesh Bags ◽  
Source Of Error

A modified method of measuring litter decomposition using mesh bags is suggested in which the bags are reused during several time increments. The chief objections to this method are that litter may be lost through spillage and that repeated artificial drying may affect decomposition rates. Experimental results are presented to show that spillage represents a significant source of error with finely divided litter, even using conventional litter bag methods. A method for handling litter bags is suggested in which corrections may be made for spillage. In a second experiment it was found that decomposition rates were not significantly altered by repeated artificial drying of old-field litter so that repeated drying of litter in field experiments may be valid.

scholarly journals DECOMPOSITION OF LEAF LITTER IN THE BRAZILIAN CERRADO, CERRADÃO AND FOREST ENVIRONMENTS IN THE AMAZON, BRAZIL

FLORESTA ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 803
Author(s):  
Maria Clécia Gomes Sales ◽  
Milton César Costa Campos ◽  
Elilson Gomes de Brito Filho ◽  
Luís Antônio Coutrim Dos Santos ◽  
José Maurício Da Cunha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Life Time ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Nutrient Input ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Mass Percentage ◽  
Litter Bags ◽  
Litter Bag ◽  
Loss Analysis

The soils of the Amazon region, despite being under one of the densest forests in the world, are mostly characterized by low nutrient availability, with litter being the main nutrient input route. The present work aimed to evaluate the litter decomposition in forest, Cerrado and Cerradão environments in the Amazon. The litter decomposition rate was estimated by mass loss analysis using litter bags. The collections were performed at intervals of 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270 and 300 days, with four replications. Once collected, the material contained in each litter bag was placed to dry to obtain the dry mass. And so, the remaining mass percentage, the decomposition rates (k) and the half-life time (t1/2) are estimated. During the studied period, the Cerrado environment presented the lowest constant k (0.0017 g g-1 day-1) and consequently longer half-life (407 days). The monthly deposition in Cerrado input ranged from Mgha-1mother1 (June to September). Among the evaluated environments, the forest presented the highest decomposition speed and Cerrado presented the lowest one. It was evidenced that the decomposition process for all studied environments occurred with greater intensity in the rainy season.

scholarly journals Species Diversity Induces Idiosyncratic Effects on Litter Decomposition in a Degraded Meadow Steppe

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iqra Naeem ◽  
Talal Asif ◽  
Xuefeng Wu ◽  
Nazim Hassan ◽  
Liu Yiming ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Incubation Time ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Leymus Chinensis ◽  
Natural Ecosystem ◽  
Litter Bags ◽  
Litter Bag ◽  
Decomposition Dynamics ◽  
Litter Mixing

Litter decomposition is a fundamental path for nutrient cycling in a natural ecosystem. However, it remains unclear how species diversity, including richness and evenness, affects the decomposition dynamics in the context of grassland degradation. Using a litter bag technique, we investigated the litter-mixing effects of two coexisting dominant species (Leymus chinensis Lc and Phragmites australis Pa), as monocultures and mixtures with evenness (Lc:Pa) from M1 (30:70%), M2 (50:50%), and M3 (70:30%), on decomposition processes over time (60 and 365 days). The litter bags were placed on the soil surface along a degradation gradient [near pristine (NP), lightly degraded (LD), and highly degraded (HD)]. We found that 1) mass loss in mixture compositions was significantly and positively correlated with initial nitrogen (N) and cellulose contents; 2) litter mixing (richness and evenness) influenced decomposition dynamics individually and in interaction with the incubation days and the degradation gradients; 3) in a general linear model (GLM), nonadditive antagonistic effects were more prominent than additive or neutral effects in final litter and nutrients except for carbon (C); and 4) in nutrients (C, N, lignin) and C/N ratio, additive effects shifted to nonadditive with incubation time. We speculated that the occurrence of nonadditive positive or negative effects varied with litter and nutrients mass remaining in each degraded gradient under the mechanism of initial litter quality of monoculture species, soil properties of experimental sites, and incubation time. Our study has important implications for grassland improvement and protection by considering species biodiversity richness, as well as species evenness.

scholarly journals Effects of water content and mesh size on tea bag decomposition

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taiki Mori ◽  
Ryota Aoyagi ◽  
Hiroki Taga ◽  
Yoshimi Sakai
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Mesh Size ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Litter Bags ◽  
Essential Information ◽  
Litter Bag ◽  
Rooibos Tea ◽  
Water Contents

AbstractThe tea bag method was developed to provide uniform litter bags that enable comparison of organic matter decomposition rates on a large scale. However, it remains uncertain whether tea bag decomposition in response to wetness is representative of that of natural litters. We performed incubation experiments to examine whether the effect of soil water on tea bag decomposition becomes inhibitory at higher water contents, as was demonstrated in natural leaf litters. In addition, we performed field studies in a mixed forest and cedar plantation in Japan to compare two litter bag mesh sizes: 0.25-mm mesh, the size previously used by a major manufacturer of tea bags (Lipton), and nonwoven bags with mesh sizes finer than 0.25 mm, which are currently produced by Lipton. Both green tea and rooibos tea exhibited higher decomposition rates at higher water contents, but decomposition was inhibited at the highest water content, consistent with conceptual models of natural litters. The nonwoven tea bags did not show lower decomposition rates, despite the finer mesh size. Rather, the nonwoven rooibos tea bags exhibited slightly higher decomposition rates than the 0.25-mm mesh bags in the cedar plantation, possibly due to a greater abundance of microorganisms that decompose litters in the nonwoven bags, due to the decrease in predation by mesofauna. Our findings provide essential information for future studies of tea bag decomposition.

scholarly journals Biochar addition affected nutrient leaching and litter decomposition rates in boreal sandy soils

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanna Saarnio ◽  
Riitta Kettunen
Keyword(s):  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Fine Sand ◽  
Nutrient Leaching ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Litter Bags ◽  
Total N ◽  
Nutrient Analyses ◽  
Total P

Effects of biochar addition on litter decomposition rates, nutrient leaching and soil moisture were tested in two boreal agricultural soils; a sandy till and a medium fine sand. Three litter bags were buried in soil basins, which were stored in the dark for 31 and 19 weeks in the sandy till experiment and medium fine sand experiment, respectively. Once per each temperature period, the soil was saturated in order to collect excess water for nutrient analyses. Biochar increased the decomposition rate of N-rich litter but did not affect the decomposition of N-poor litter. PO43--P and NO2--N were released from the biochar to the leached water and thus leaching of PO43--P, NO2--N and total P was increased in the soil with the finer texture. However, biochar retained water after heavy irrigation and leaching of PO43--P and total P was not increased on the coarser soil. Although pure biochar adsorbed NH4+-N from nutrient solutions, NH4+-N leaching from both soil types was generally not affected by biochar. Leaching of nitrate NO3--N and total N was decreased on both soils due to retention by the biochar.

Effects of Robiniapseudoacacia on leaf litter decomposition and nitrogen mineralization in a northern hardwood stand

1984 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Robert Hirschfeld ◽  
John Thomas Finn ◽  
William Albert Patterson III
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Nitrogen Mineralization ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Northern Hardwood ◽  
Hardwood Species ◽  
Nitrogen Concentrations ◽  
Mesh Bags ◽  
Lower Carbon

We studied the effects of the presence ofRobiniapseudoacacia L. on decomposition rates and nitrogen mineralization in the forest floor of two northern hardwood stands in western Massachusetts, one with and one without Robinia. Leaves from two hardwood species on the two sites and Robinia leaves were set out in mesh bags on the two sites for a total of 10 treatments. Increased nitrogen concentrations and lower carbon/nitrogen ratios were evident in leaves from the stand with Robinia, but this did not significantly affect rates of decomposition, which were the same for all 10 combinations of species, source, and site. Mineralization was observed only in leaves of Robinia placed on the Robinia stand and in leaves of Acersaccharum Marsh. placed on the stand without Robinia. Carbon/nitrogen ratios of Robinia litter were significantly lower than carbon/nitrogen ratios of Fraxinusamericana L. or Acer litter throughout the experiment. Site of decomposition did not appear to affect carbon/nitrogen ratios as decomposition proceeded.

Litter decomposition in coastal hemlock stands: impact of nitrogen fertilizers on decay rates

1983 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranjit S. Gill ◽  
Denis P. Lavender
Keyword(s):  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Calcium Nitrate ◽  
Decay Rates ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizers ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Litter Bags ◽  
Coated Urea ◽  
Qualitative Measure

Urea, gypsum-coated urea, and calcium nitrate fertilizers differentially affected indigenous rates of litter decomposition on the forest floor for coastal stands of western hemlock (Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.). These differences were most pronounced during the first 6 months after fertilization. Urea and gypsum-coated urea both stimulated the rates of litter decomposition, although the effect of gypsum-coated urea was more gradual. In contrast, calcium nitrate somewhat retarded existing decomposition rates during the first 6 months; after 12 months, it had little or no impact. The significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation of percentage of lignin in litter with time renders it an important qualitative measure of decomposition rates in studies utilizing litter bags.

Decomposition rate of cereal straw as affected by soil placement

Soil Research ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 152 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Curtin ◽  
G. S. Francis ◽  
F. M. McCallum
Keyword(s):  
Crop Residues ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Straw Decomposition ◽  
Litter Bags ◽  
Litter Bag ◽  
Residue Contact ◽  
Co2 Output ◽  
Soil Residue

Decomposition rates for crop residues have generally been estimated based on data obtained using buried litter bags. Because of limited soil–residue contact, the litter bag technique may not adequately simulate decomposition when residues are mixed through the soil. In field microplots, decomposition of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) straw (autumn-incorporated at a rate of 7 t/ha) mixed through the 0–0.20 m soil layer was compared with straw decomposition in fibreglass bags (4-mm mesh) buried at a depth of 0.20 m. A surface-placed straw treatment and a no-straw control were included for comparison. Emissions of CO2 were monitored from the incorporated straw treatments and undecomposed straw was recovered after 158 days (mean soil temperature during the trial period was 8°C at 0.10 m). Emissions of CO2 from the soil‐mixed straw treatment were generally greater than from the buried bag treatment in the 2 months following incorporation. Output of CO2-C over the first 73 days averaged 83 g/m2 for the soil-mixed straw treatment compared with 61 g/m2 for the litter bag treatment and 34 g/m2 for the no-straw control. Over the entire trial, CO2-C attributable to straw (CO2-C output from straw-treated plots minus CO2-C emitted from the control) was 66% greater for soil‐mixed straw than for litter bag straw, indicating that within soil placement can have a strong and persistent effect on straw decomposition. Straw type had a small but significant (P < 0.05) effect on CO2 output (barley > wheat). Straw mass loss during the trial averaged 66% for soil-mixed straw, 32% for litter bag straw, and 13% for straw placed on the soil surface. The low recovery of soil‐mixed straw is partly due to difficulty of extracting small (<2 mm) residue fragments from the soil; however, such fragments could legitimately be considered part of the soil organic matter. The results confirm that straw that is well distributed through the soil may decompose more rapidly than would be anticipated from litter bag measurements.

Ants accelerate litter decomposition in a Costa Rican lowland tropical rain forest

2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 437-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terrence P. McGlynn ◽  
Evan K. Poirson
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Rain Forest ◽  
Costa Rican ◽  
Tropical Rain Forests ◽  
Rain Forests ◽  
Food Web Structure ◽  
Litter Bags ◽  
Lowland Rain Forest

Abstract:The decomposition of leaf litter is governed, in part, by litter invertebrates. In tropical rain forests, ants are dominant predators in the leaf litter and may alter litter decomposition through the action of a top-down control of food web structure. The role of ants in litter decomposition was investigated in a Costa Rican lowland rain forest with two experiments. In a mesocosm experiment, we manipulated ant presence in 50 ambient leaf-litter mesocosms. In a litterbag gradient experiment, Cecropia obtusifolia litter was used to measure decomposition rate constants across gradients in nutrients, ant density and richness, with 27 separate litterbag treatments for total arthropod exclusion or partial arthropod exclusion. After 2 mo, mass loss in mesocosms containing ants was 30.9%, significantly greater than the 23.5% mass loss in mesocosms without ants. In the litter bags with all arthropods excluded, decomposition was best accounted by the carbon: phosphorus content of soil (r2 = 0.41). In litter bags permitting smaller arthropods but excluding ants, decomposition was best explained by the local biomass of ants in the vicinity of the litter bags (r2 = 0.50). Once the microarthropod prey of ants are permitted to enter litterbags, the biomass of ants near the litterbags overtakes soil chemistry as the regulator of decomposition. In concert, these results support a working hypothesis that litter-dwelling ants are responsible for accelerating litter decomposition in lowland tropical rain forests.

scholarly journals Litter Decomposition Rates of Biocrust-Forming Lichens Are Similar to Those of Vascular Plants and Are Affected by Warming

Ecosystems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Berdugo ◽  
Dinorah O. Mendoza-Aguilar ◽  
Ana Rey ◽  
Victoria Ochoa ◽  
Beatriz Gozalo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Decomposition Rates
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