Aboveground litter quality changes may drive soil organic carbon increase after shrub encroachment into mountain grasslands

作者：Montane Francesc^*; Romanya Joan; Rovira Pere; Casals Pere

来源：Plant and Soil, 2010, 337(1-2): 151-165.

DOI：10.1007/s11104-010-0512-1

• Litter decomposition
• Root decomposition
• Litter quality
• Litter production
• Root production
• Ingrowth cores
• Legume shrub
• Conifer shrub
• C sequestration

Shrub encroachment into grasslands is ubiquitous but its impact on soil organic C (SOC) remains unclear. In previous work we had observed that shrub encroachment into mesic mountain grasslands increased SOC content. Here we sought the mechanisms of this increase. To this end, we assessed aboveground and belowground production for a conifer shrub (Juniperus communis L), a legume shrub (Cytisus balansae ssp. europaeus (G. Lpez & Jarvis) Muoz Garmendia) and grass (Festuca eskia Ramond ex DC), together with decomposition rates for both aboveground litter and roots. Belowground C net inputs do not clearly explain SOC increase: grass root production was higher than that of either shrub and the decomposition rate of grass roots was the lowest. Aboveground C net inputs were only slightly greater in shrubs than in grass, but the decomposition rate of litter of both shrubs was much lower than that of grass. The decomposition of conifer litter was N-limited, whereas that of legume shrub litter was P-limited. Thus we conclude that the SOC increases after shrub encroachment into mesic grasslands probably as a result of higher recalcitrance of shrub aboveground litter relative to grass litter.

• 出版日期2010-12