Litters decomposition characteristics of five species in the Gurbantunggut Desert

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2019.00081

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2020, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (2): 165-176.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2019.00081

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Litters decomposition characteristics of five species in the Gurbantunggut Desert

Zhao Hongmei^1,2, Cheng Junhui^1,2, Zhang Wentai^1,2, Su Yangui³, Zhang Caiyun¹, Sheng Jiandong^1,2

1. College of Grassland and Environment Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China;
2. Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Soil and Plant Ecological Processes, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China;
3. School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China

Received:2019-07-31 Revised:2019-09-05 Online:2020-03-20 Published:2020-04-26

Abstract

Abstract: Litter decomposition is one of the key processes in nutrient cycles in temperate deserts. The objectives of this study were to explore the litter decomposition characteristics of four plant life-forms, comprising five typical desert species. Litterbag experiment was carried out to investigate the decomposition characteristics of leaf, stem and root litters of Eremurus inderiensis, Erodium oxyrrhynchum, Phragmites communis, Karelinia caspia and Nitraria sibirica in the Gurbantunggut Desert, northwestern China. Litter mass loss were well described by an exponential decay model (R²>0.70). Decomposition rates were significantly different among species and organs within species. The decomposition rate of E. oxyrrhynchum and E. inderiensis were faster than that of P. communis, K. caspia and N. sibirica after 629 days of decomposition. Leaf and root decomposition were faster than stem, whereas the difference between leaf and root decomposition differed in terms of the plant. In addition, the nutrient release dynamics depended on species and plant organ. Stem generally exhibited nutrient accumulation, while leaf and root of E. inderiensis and E. oxyrrhynchum showed N and P releases. Initial chemical composition was more important in predicting decomposition rates or patterns of stem and root than leaf. Root decomposition was primarily determined by initial nutrient content and the content of recalcitrant compounds of litter. Results suggest that initial chemistry composition plays an important role in litter decomposition in temperate deserts, and the decomposability of desert litters depends on plant life-form and organ. Thus, changes in plant species or in allocation patterns among organs due to litter quality change could have profound effects on carbon and nutrient turnover in desert ecosystems.

Key words: desert ecosystem, life form, litter decomposition, decomposition rate, nutrient dynamics

CLC Number:

Q948.1

Zhao Hongmei, Cheng Junhui, Zhang Wentai, Su Yangui, Zhang Caiyun, Sheng Jiandong. Litters decomposition characteristics of five species in the Gurbantunggut Desert[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2020, 40(2): 165-176.

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Litters decomposition characteristics of five species in the Gurbantunggut Desert

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