Interaction of position, litter type, and water pulses on decomposition of grasses from the semiarid Patagonian steppe

Austin, Amy T.; Araujo, Patricia I.; Leva, Paula E.

doi:10.1890/08-1804.1

Cited by 68Soil Carbon and Nitrogen DynamicsEnvironmental and biological studiesSoil erosion and sediment transport

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Interaction of position, litter type, and water pulses on decomposition of grasses from the semiarid Patagonian steppe

Austin, Amy T., Araujo, Patricia I., Leva, Paula E.·2009·Ecology

DOI 10.1890/08-1804.1

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Abstract

Litter lignin and nutrient content, annual rainfall, and biotic activity are not good predictors of litter decomposition in arid and semiarid ecosystems, suggesting that other factors may be important in controlling carbon turnover. We explored the relative importance of litter position (above- vs. belowground), litter type (leaf vs. root), and pulsed water events (large vs. small) on mass loss with grass species of the semiarid Patagonian steppe. In a factorial experiment of mesocosms, we incubated leaf and root litter simultaneously above- and belowground and manipulated water availability with large and small pulses. Significant interactions between position and litter type and position and pulse sizes demonstrated interactive controls on organic mass loss. Aboveground decomposition showed no response to pulse size or litter type, as roots and leaves decomposed equally rapidly under all circumstances. In contrast, belowground decomposition was significantly altered by litter type and water pulses, with roots decomposing significantly slower and small water pulses reducing belowground decomposition. The results of this mesocosm experiment support the idea that controls other than water availability may dominate aboveground mass loss, while a combination of recalcitrant litter and water penetration in the soil profile are critical factors determining belowground decomposition, which is ultimately mediated by biotic degradation.

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Leaf-litter, being more easily decomposable than root material, might have accelerated soil C cycling under woody crops, further enhancing the C content in the fPOM fraction and stimulating the formation of microaggregates, therefore improving the physical protection of C.
“Leaf-litter, being more easily decomposable than root material (Puget & Drinkwater, 2001;Kemp et al., 2003;Austin et al., 2009;D'Acunto et al., 2014), might have accelerated the soil C cycling under woody crops, further enhancing the C content in the fPOM fraction and stimulating the formation of microaggregates, therefore improving the physical protection of C (Helfrich et al., 2008;Cotrufo et al”
From Carbon sequestration potential in perennial bioenergy crops: the importance of organic matter inputs and its physical protection (2016) · cites this paper as Austin et al., 2009

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Authors: Austin, A. T., Araujo, P. I., & Leva, P. E.
Affiliations: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (AR)
Corresponding author: Austin, Amy T.
ORCID: Austin, Amy T.
Araujo, Patricia I.
Venue: Ecology
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2009-09
Volume: 90
Issue: 9
Pages: 2642-2647
ISSN: 0012-9658 (ISSN-L)
1939-9170
DOI: 10.1890/08-1804.1
OpenAlex: W2124425101
Cited by: 68
References: 47
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
FWCI: 6.70
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Ecology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: Vanderbilt University
Topics: Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Environmental and biological studies
Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil erosion and sediment transport
Keywords: litter decomposition, root litter, leaf litter, rainfall variability, semi-arid steppe, Patagonian steppe, Poaceae, carbon turnover, soil water infiltration, biodegradation
MeSH terms: Argentina, Biodegradation, Environmental, Climate, Poaceae, Water, Ecosystem

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Interaction of position, litter type, and water pulses on decomposition of grasses from the semiarid Patagonian steppe

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