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Macro- and micronutrient effects on decomposition of leaf litter from two tropical tree species: inferences from a short-term laboratory incubation

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Abstract

While a large number of studies have investigated the effects of macronutrients such as nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) on litter decomposition, recent studies suggest that micronutrients including zinc (Zn) may also limit decomposition rates. Our goal was to compare the effects of nutrient addition on decomposition of two leaf litter types from tropical dry forest trees in a short-term laboratory microcosm experiment. Single nutrients (N, P, Zn, potassium, magnesium, and nickel) were applied to leaf litter in solution at low or high concentrations (to mimic in situ availability or to alleviate nutrient limitation, respectively), and decomposition was assessed as final mass remaining and carbon dioxide mineralization. Both mass remaining and CO2 mineralization were affected by nutrient identity and concentration, and these effects varied by species. In general, P and Zn addition increased decomposition, Mg and N inhibited it, and K and Ni had no significant effects. Future studies should consider the interactions between decomposition processes, decomposer communities, and a wider range of macro- and micronutrients.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this study was provided through a NASA New Investigator Award (NS000107) to J. Powers. We thank Peter Tiffin, Carol Adair, David Manning, and two anonymous reviewers for reviews of previous drafts of this manuscript and Jennifer King for allowing us to use her GC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 100 Ecology Building, 1987 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA

    Jennifer S. Powers

  2. Department of Plant Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, USA

    Jennifer S. Powers

  3. College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, USA

    Stefani Salute

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  1. Jennifer S. Powers
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  2. Stefani Salute
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Correspondence to Jennifer S. Powers.

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Responsible Editor: Tim Moore.

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Powers, J.S., Salute, S. Macro- and micronutrient effects on decomposition of leaf litter from two tropical tree species: inferences from a short-term laboratory incubation. Plant Soil 346, 245–257 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-0815-x

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