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Contrasting dynamics and trait controls in first-order root compared with leaf litter decomposition.

Tao Sun1,2, Sarah E Hobbie2, Björn Berg3,4

  • 1Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 110016 Shenyang, China; suntao28329@163.com wangzw@iae.ac.cn.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|September 27, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Plant roots decompose slower than leaf litter, with root decomposition controlled by non-lignin carbon chemistry, not lignin. This challenges current ecosystem carbon models and assumptions about plant traits influencing decomposition.

Keywords:
long-term decompositionmycorrhizal fungiplant–soil interactionsroot tipstrait coordination

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Biogeochemistry
  • Plant Science

Background:

  • Decomposition is crucial for the global carbon cycle.
  • Ecosystem carbon models often neglect root and mycorrhizae contributions.
  • Understanding first-order root decomposition dynamics is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate decomposition rates and controls of first-order roots versus leaf litter.
  • Examine the influence of plant traits, particularly mycorrhizal type, on decomposition.
  • Challenge existing ecosystem carbon models and decomposition paradigms.

Main Methods:

  • Monitored decomposition of first-order roots and leaf litter from 35 woody species over 6 years.
  • Analyzed root and leaf litter carbon chemistry, focusing on non-lignin components.
  • Compared decomposition rates between ectomycorrhizal (EM) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) plant species.

Main Results:

  • First-order roots decomposed significantly slower (k=0.11 yr⁻¹) than leaf litter (k=0.35 yr⁻¹).
  • Non-lignin root carbon chemistry explained 82% of interspecific variation in root decomposition.
  • EM root decomposition shifted from slower to faster than AM root decomposition after 2 years.

Conclusions:

  • First-order root decomposition differs fundamentally from leaf litter decomposition in dynamics and controls.
  • Non-lignin carbon traits, not currently in models, are key drivers of root decomposition.
  • Current ecosystem carbon models and trait-based decomposition assumptions require revision.