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Soil Nitrogen in Relation to Quality and Decomposability of Plant Litter in the Patagonian Monte, Argentina

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Abstract

In two consecutive years, we analysed the effect of litter quality, quantity and decomposability on soil N at three characteristic sites of the Patagonian Monte. We assessed (i) concentrations of N, C, lignin and total phenolics and the C/N ratio in senesced leaves as indicators of litter quality of three species of each dominant plant life form (evergreen shrubs and perennial grasses), and (ii) N, and organic-C concentrations, potential N-mineralisation and microbial-N flush in the soil beneath each species. Rate constants of potential decomposition of senesced leaves and N content in decaying leaves during the incubation period were assessed in composite samples of the three sites as indicators of litter decomposability. Further, we estimated for each species leaf-litter production, leaf-litter on soil, and the mass of standing senesced leaves during the senescence period. Senesced leaves of evergreen shrubs showed higher decomposability than those of perennial grasses. Leaf-litter production, leaf-litter on soil, and the mass of standing senesced leaves differed significantly among species. The largest variations in leaf-litter production and leaf-litter on soil were observed in evergreen shrubs. The mass of standing senesced leaves was larger in perennial grasses than in evergreen shrubs. Nitrogen, organic C and potential N-mineralisation in soil were higher underneath evergreen shrubs than beneath perennial grasses, while no significant differences were found in microbial-N flush among life forms. The initial concentrations of C, N and total phenolics of senesced leaves explained together 78% of the total variance observed in the dry mass loss of decaying leaves. Litter decomposition rates explained 98%, 98%, 73%, and 67% of the total variance of soil N, organic C, net-N mineralisation, and microbial-N flush, respectively. We concluded that leaf-litter decomposition rates along with leaf-litter production are meaningful indicators of plant local effects on soil N dynamics in shrublands of the Patagonian Monte, and probably in other similar ecosystem of the world dominated by slow growing species that accumulate a wide variety of secondary metabolites including phenolics. Indicators such as C/N or lignin concentration usually used to predict litter decomposability or local plant effects may not be adequate in the case of slow growing species that accumulate a wide range of secondary metabolites or have long leaf lifespan and low leaf-litter production.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CENPAT (Centro Nacional Patagónico (CONICET), Boulevard Brown s/n, 9120 Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina

    Carrera Analía Lorena, Vargas Dariana Noé, Campanella María Victoria, Bertiller Mónica Beatriz & Sain Claudia Leticia

  2. Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad Nacional del Comahue–CONICET, Argentina

    Mazzarino María Julia

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  1. Carrera Analía Lorena
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  2. Vargas Dariana Noé
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  3. Campanella María Victoria
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  4. Bertiller Mónica Beatriz
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Correspondence to Carrera Analía Lorena.

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Lorena, C.A., Noé, V.D., Victoria, C.M. et al. Soil Nitrogen in Relation to Quality and Decomposability of Plant Litter in the Patagonian Monte, Argentina. Plant Ecol 181, 139–151 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-005-5322-9

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