Litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics in a subtropical ecosystem: A comparison of natural and plantation forests (Duabanga grandiflora) in Nagaland, North-East India
Forest litter decomposition is vital for nutrient cycling and carbon turnover. To investigate their decomposition rate, we conducted a litter bag experiment in plantation forests (PF) and natural forests (NF) in a subtropical ecosystem. Our findings showed significant seasonal variation in litter ma...
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Elsevier
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005250 |
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| author | Tezenle Magh Lobeno Mozhui L.N. Kakati Bendang Ao Takasangla Lemtur Lirikum Jing |
| author_facet | Tezenle Magh Lobeno Mozhui L.N. Kakati Bendang Ao Takasangla Lemtur Lirikum Jing |
| author_sort | Tezenle Magh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Forest litter decomposition is vital for nutrient cycling and carbon turnover. To investigate their decomposition rate, we conducted a litter bag experiment in plantation forests (PF) and natural forests (NF) in a subtropical ecosystem. Our findings showed significant seasonal variation in litter mass loss (p < 0.0001) between the two sites, indicating seasonality as the main driver of decomposition. The decay rate constant (k) expressed in day⁻¹, reflecting the fraction of litter mass lost per day due to decomposition, reveals that NF has higher k value of 0.007 day⁻¹ than PF at 0.005 day⁻¹ , indicating faster decomposition in NF. This constant is essential for predicting litter breakdown duration, highlighting decomposition dynamics between sites, suggesting that even minimal distances between forest types can affect organic matter breakdown. In both sites, litter mass loss varied significantly from the initial to the final year (p < 0.001), with peak rates during the monsoon, followed by pre-monsoon and dry periods. Mixed litter in NF experienced a 99.94 % loss after 730 days, while PF, saw 97.80 % loss. Carbon, lignin, nitrogen, and potassium concentrations were higher during the monsoon and pre-monsoon seasons at both sites. Except for phosphorus in PF, all soil parameters positively correlated with mass loss, along with litter parameters C, N, P, K, and lignin (p < 0.001). Litter decomposition was higher in NF than PF, with significant seasonal effects (p < 0.0001), highlighting seasonality over litter mixture effects. Understanding climate variability and species diversity is essential for sustainable forest management amid ongoing anthropogenic land-use changes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-72a7750f4d8e4f1d9b79e966f36c9145 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj-art-72a7750f4d8e4f1d9b79e966f36c91452024-12-16T05:36:16ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942024-12-0156e03321Litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics in a subtropical ecosystem: A comparison of natural and plantation forests (Duabanga grandiflora) in Nagaland, North-East IndiaTezenle Magh0Lobeno Mozhui1L.N. Kakati2Bendang Ao3Takasangla Lemtur4Lirikum Jing5Ecology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Nagaland University, Lumami 798627, IndiaEcology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Nagaland University, Lumami 798627, IndiaDepartment of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Assam down town University, Panikhaiti, Guwahati, Assam 781026, India; Corresponding author.Entomology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Nagaland University, Lumami 798627, IndiaEcology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Nagaland University, Lumami 798627, IndiaDepartment of Zoology, Don Bosco College, Kohima 797001, IndiaForest litter decomposition is vital for nutrient cycling and carbon turnover. To investigate their decomposition rate, we conducted a litter bag experiment in plantation forests (PF) and natural forests (NF) in a subtropical ecosystem. Our findings showed significant seasonal variation in litter mass loss (p < 0.0001) between the two sites, indicating seasonality as the main driver of decomposition. The decay rate constant (k) expressed in day⁻¹, reflecting the fraction of litter mass lost per day due to decomposition, reveals that NF has higher k value of 0.007 day⁻¹ than PF at 0.005 day⁻¹ , indicating faster decomposition in NF. This constant is essential for predicting litter breakdown duration, highlighting decomposition dynamics between sites, suggesting that even minimal distances between forest types can affect organic matter breakdown. In both sites, litter mass loss varied significantly from the initial to the final year (p < 0.001), with peak rates during the monsoon, followed by pre-monsoon and dry periods. Mixed litter in NF experienced a 99.94 % loss after 730 days, while PF, saw 97.80 % loss. Carbon, lignin, nitrogen, and potassium concentrations were higher during the monsoon and pre-monsoon seasons at both sites. Except for phosphorus in PF, all soil parameters positively correlated with mass loss, along with litter parameters C, N, P, K, and lignin (p < 0.001). Litter decomposition was higher in NF than PF, with significant seasonal effects (p < 0.0001), highlighting seasonality over litter mixture effects. Understanding climate variability and species diversity is essential for sustainable forest management amid ongoing anthropogenic land-use changes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005250Decay constantLitter decayLitter decompositionNagalandNutrient dynamicsSub-tropical ecosystem |
| spellingShingle | Tezenle Magh Lobeno Mozhui L.N. Kakati Bendang Ao Takasangla Lemtur Lirikum Jing Litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics in a subtropical ecosystem: A comparison of natural and plantation forests (Duabanga grandiflora) in Nagaland, North-East India Global Ecology and Conservation Decay constant Litter decay Litter decomposition Nagaland Nutrient dynamics Sub-tropical ecosystem |
| title | Litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics in a subtropical ecosystem: A comparison of natural and plantation forests (Duabanga grandiflora) in Nagaland, North-East India |
| title_full | Litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics in a subtropical ecosystem: A comparison of natural and plantation forests (Duabanga grandiflora) in Nagaland, North-East India |
| title_fullStr | Litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics in a subtropical ecosystem: A comparison of natural and plantation forests (Duabanga grandiflora) in Nagaland, North-East India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics in a subtropical ecosystem: A comparison of natural and plantation forests (Duabanga grandiflora) in Nagaland, North-East India |
| title_short | Litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics in a subtropical ecosystem: A comparison of natural and plantation forests (Duabanga grandiflora) in Nagaland, North-East India |
| title_sort | litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics in a subtropical ecosystem a comparison of natural and plantation forests duabanga grandiflora in nagaland north east india |
| topic | Decay constant Litter decay Litter decomposition Nagaland Nutrient dynamics Sub-tropical ecosystem |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005250 |
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