Litter quality, decomposition process and soil fertility relationships in the Monte desert (Argentina)
Keywords:
Prosopis spp, Larrea spp, lignin, decomposition rate, humic acids, soil microorganisms, cellulolytics, nitrifiersAbstract
Although there is abundant information on decomposition processes and litter quality in deserts, little is known about the integrated effect of both factors on soil fertility. We evaluated, in the Monte desert (Mendoza, Argentina), during one year: a) the chemical and biological quality of litter of two woody species (Prosopis flexuosa and Larrea divaricata) collected after two litter fall events (summer and autumn), b) the decomposition dynamics (weight loss and chemical compound variations) in cages of 1 cm mesh, and c) the changes in fertility of the underlying soil (beneath the cage). Litter quality differed between falling dates (summer: more cellulose, phenols and soluble N; autumn: more soluble C) and between species (P. flexuosa: more fiber, total and soluble N and less phenols), while decomposition dynamics was similar between species. In contrast, litter quality (specifically, soluble compound contents) seems to affect the magnitude of changes in the underlying soil fertility. The important decrease in soil microorganisms under L. divaricata is probably due to the high soil exposure to summer insolation. It is concluded that, during the first year, the decomposition process is weakly regulated by litter quality and that the variations detected responded mainly to the Monte climatic conditions.
References
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BUCHER, EH; PA TORRES & A ABRIL. 2003. Litter quality and litter removal by the native fauna in the Chaco woodland of Argentina. J. Trop. Ecol. 19:337-341.
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CONANT, RT; P DALLA-BETTA; CC KLOPATEK & JM KLOPATEK. 2004. Controls on soil respiration in semiarid soils. Soil Biol. Biochem. 36:945-951.
DILLY, O & JC MUNCH. 1996. Microbial biomass content, basal respiration and enzyme activities during the course of decomposition of leaf litter in a black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) forest. Soil Biol. Biochem. 28:1073-1081.
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MABRY, TJ; JH HUNZIKER & DR DIFEO (Eds.). 1979. Creosete Bush, Biology and Chemistry of Larrea in New World Desert. Dowden Hutchinson & Ross Inc. Texas.
MARONE, L; ME HORNO & R GONZÁLEZ DEL SOLAR. 2000. Post-dispersal fate of seeds in the Monte desert of Argentina: patterns of germination in successive wet and dry years. J. Ecol. 88:940-949.
MOLLER, J; M MILLER & A KJOLLER.1999. Fungal- bacterial interaction on beech leaves: influence on decomposition and dissolved organic carbon quality. Soil. Biol. Biochem. 31:367-374.
NELSON DW & LE SOMMERS. 1982. Total carbon, organic carbon and organic mater. Pp. 539-580 en Page, AL; RH Miller & DR Keeney (Eds.). Methods of Soils Analysis. II. Chemical and Microbiological Properties. Soil Science Society of America. Madison, Wisconsin.
OLSON, J. 1963. Energy storage and the balance of producers and decomposers in ecological systems. Ecology 44:322-331.
PRESCOTT, CE. 2005. Do rates of litter decomposition tell us anything we really need to know? Forest Ecol. Manage. 220:66-74.
REYES-REYES, BG; E ZAMORA-VILLAFRANCO; ML REYES- REYES; JT FRIAS-FERNANDEZ; V OLALDE-PORTUGAL ET AL. 2003. Decomposition of leaves of huisache
(Acacia tortuoso) and mesquite (Prosopis spp.) in soil of the central highlands of Mexico. Plant Soil 256:359-370.
ROBERTSON, GP & EA PAUL. 2000. Decomposition and soil organic matter dynamics Pp. 104-116 en: Sala, OE; RB Jackson; HA Mooney & RW Howarth (Eds.). Methods in Ecosystem Science. Springer-Verlag, New York.
ROBERTSON, GP; DC COLEMAN; CS BLEDSOE & P SOLLINS (Eds). 1999. Standard Soil Methods for Long-term Ecological Research. Oxford University Press, New York.
SANTOS, PF; NZ ELKINS; Y STEINBERGER & WG WHITFORD. 1984. A comparison of surface and buried Larrea tridentate leaf litter decomposition in North American hot deserts. Ecology 65:278-284.
SARIYILDIZ, T & JM ANDERSON. 2003. Interactions between litter quality, decomposition and soil fertility: a laboratory study. Soil Biol. Biochem. 35:391-399.
SCHOLES, RJ & BH WALKER (Eds). 1993. An African Savanna. Cambridge. UK.
SEMMARTIN, M. 2006. Dinámica de la descomposición y la mineralización neta del nitrógeno y del fósforo de heces de vacunos en pastoreo sobre un pastizal templado. Rev. Arg. Prod. Animal 26:193-202.
SINGH, B. 1996. Influence of forest litter on reclamation of semiarid sodic soil. Arid Soil Res. Rehabil. 10:201-211.
TORRES, PA; AB ABRIL & EH BUCHER. 2005. Microbial succession in litter decomposition in the Semi-arid Chaco woodland. Soil Biol. Biochem. 37:49-54.
VAIERETTI, MV; N PEREZ-HARGUINDEGY; DE GURVICH; AM CINGOLANI & M CABIDO. 2005. Decomposition dynamics and physico-chemical leaf quality of
abundaba species in a montane woodland in central Argentina. Plant. Soil. 278:223-234.
VAN SOEST, PJ & JB ROBERTSON. 1980. Systems of analysis for evaluating fibrous feeds. Pp. 49-60 en Pidgen, WJ; CC Balch & M Graham (Eds.). Standardization of Analytical Methodology for Feeds. Int. Develop. Center and Int. Union Nutr. Sci. Ottawa, Canada.
VILLAGRA, PE & R VILLALBA. 2001. Estructura poblacional del algarrobal de la reserva de Ñacuñán. Pp. 71-75 en: Claver, S & SA Roig-Juñent (Eds.). El Desierto del Monte: La Reserva de Biosfera de Ñacuñán. IADIZA-MAB-UNESCO. Mendoza, Argentina.
VITOUSEK, P; D TURNER; W PARTON & R SANFORD. 1994. Litter decomposition on the Mauna Loa environmental matrix, Hawaii: patterns, mechanisms and models. Ecology 75:418-429.
WHITFORD, WG; Y STEINBERGER; W MACKAY, LW PARKER; D FRECKMAN ET AL. 1986. Rainfall and decomposition in the Chihuahua desert. Oecología 68:512-515.
ABRIL, A & L NOÉ. 2007. Soil C sink and CO2 flux in a marginal dry forest of western Argentina. Pp. 191-202 en: Verne, NC (Ed.). Forest Ecology Research Horizons. Nova Science Publishers, Inc. NY.
ABRIL, AB; PA TORRES & EH BUCHER. 2005. The importance of phyllosphere microbial populations in nitrogen cycling in the Chaco semiarid woodland. J. Trop. Ecol. 21:1-5.
ADANI, F; P GENEVINI; F TAMBONE & E MONTONERI. 2006. Compost effect on soil humic acid: a NMR study. Chemosphere 65:1414-1418.
ALEF, K. 1995. Soil respiration. Pp. 214-219 en: Alef, K & P Nannipieri (Eds.). Methods in Applied Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry. Academic Press, London.
ANDERSON, JM & JS INGRAM. 1989. Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility, a Handbook of Methods. Commonwealth Agriculture Bureau. Wallingford, UK.
ASP, NG; JG CLAES; H HALLMER & M SILJESTROM. 1983. Rapid enzymatic assay of insoluble and soluble dietary fiber. J. Agric. Food. Chem. 31:76-482.
AUSTIN, AT & L VIVANCO. 2006. Plant litter decomposition in a semi-arid ecosystem controlled by photodegradation. Nature 442:555-558.
BERNHARD-REVERSAT, F; G MAIN; K HOLL; J LOUMETO & J NGAO. 2003. Fast disappearance of de water- soluble phenolic fraction in eucalypt leaf litter during laboratory and field experiments. Appl. Soil Ecol. 23:273-278.
BUCHER, EH; PA TORRES & A ABRIL. 2003. Litter quality and litter removal by the native fauna in the Chaco woodland of Argentina. J. Trop. Ecol. 19:337-341.
CARRERA, A; DN VARGAS; MV CAMPANELLA; MB BERTILLER: CL SAIN ET AL. 2005. Soil nitrogen in relation to quality and decomposability of plant litter in the Patagonian Monte, Argentina. Plant Ecol. 181:139-151.
CLAVER, S & SA ROIG-JUÑENT (Eds.). 2001. El desierto del Monte: La Reserva de Biosfera de Ñacuñán. Mendoza: IADIZA-MAB-UNESCO. 226 pp.
CLEVELAND, CC; SC REED & AR TOWSEND. 2006. Nutrient regulation of organic matter decomposition in a tropical rain forest. Ecology 87:492-503.
CONANT, RT; P DALLA-BETTA; CC KLOPATEK & JM KLOPATEK. 2004. Controls on soil respiration in semiarid soils. Soil Biol. Biochem. 36:945-951.
DILLY, O & JC MUNCH. 1996. Microbial biomass content, basal respiration and enzyme activities during the course of decomposition of leaf litter in a black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) forest. Soil Biol. Biochem. 28:1073-1081.
DÖBEREINER, J. 1995. Isolation and identification of aerobic nitrogen fixing bacteria from soil and plants. Pp. 134-141 en: Alef, K & P Nannipieri (Eds.). Methods in Applied Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry. Academic Press, London.
EICHHORN, J & A HÜTTERMANN. 1999. Mechanisms of humus dynamics and nitrogen mineralization. Pp. 278-315 en: Rastin, N & J Bauhus (Eds.). Going underground-ecological studies in forest soils. Research Signpost, India.
ESTRELLA, H; J BOSHOVEN & M TOGNELLI. 2001. Características del clima regional y de la Reserva de Ñacuñán, Pp. 25-31 en: Claver, S & SA Roig- Juñent (Eds.). El desierto del Monte: La Reserva de Biosfera de Ñacuñán. Mendoza: IADIZA-MAB-UNESCO.
FIORETTO, A; C DI NARDO; S PAPA & A FUGGI. 2005. Lignin and cellulose degradation and nitrogen dynamics during decomposition of three leaf litter species in a Mediterranean ecosystem. Soil Biol. Biochem. 37:1083-1091.
GALLO, ME; RL SINSABAUGH & SE CABANISS. 2006. The role of ultraviolet radiation in letter decomposition in arid ecosystems. Appl. Soil Ecol. 34:82-91.
GHOLZ, HL; DA WEDIN; SM SMITHERMAN; ME HARMON & WJ PARTON. 2000. Long-term dynamics of pine and hardwood litter in contrasting environments: toward a global model of decomposition. Glob. Change Biol. 6:751-765.
HOORENS, B; R AERTS & M STROETENGA. 2004. Elevated UV-B radiation has no effect on litter quality and decomposition of two dune grassland species: evidence from a long-term field experiment. Glob. Change Biol. 10:200-208.
IBRAHIMA, A; R JOFFRE & D GILLON. 1995. Changes in litter during the initial leaching phase: an experiment on the leaf litter of Mediterranean species. Soil Biol. Biochem. 27:931-939.
JENSEN, V. 1974. Decomposition of angiosperm tree leaf litter. Pp. 69-104 en: Dickinson, GH & GJ Pugh (Eds.). Biology of Plant Litter Decomposition. Academic Press. London.
KEENEY, D & D NELSON. 1982. Nitrogen inorganic forms. Pp. 643-698 en: Page, AL; R Miller & D Keeney (Eds.). Methods of Soil Analysis. Chemical and Microbiological properties. Vol 2. American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science. Madison, WI.
LORCH, HJ; G BENCKIESER & JC OTTOW. 1995. Basic methods for counting microorganisms in soil and water. Pp. 146-161 en: Alef, K & P Nannipieri (Eds.). Methods in Applied Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry. Academic Press, London.
MABRY, TJ; JH HUNZIKER & DR DIFEO (Eds.). 1979. Creosete Bush, Biology and Chemistry of Larrea in New World Desert. Dowden Hutchinson & Ross Inc. Texas.
MARONE, L; ME HORNO & R GONZÁLEZ DEL SOLAR. 2000. Post-dispersal fate of seeds in the Monte desert of Argentina: patterns of germination in successive wet and dry years. J. Ecol. 88:940-949.
MOLLER, J; M MILLER & A KJOLLER.1999. Fungal- bacterial interaction on beech leaves: influence on decomposition and dissolved organic carbon quality. Soil. Biol. Biochem. 31:367-374.
NELSON DW & LE SOMMERS. 1982. Total carbon, organic carbon and organic mater. Pp. 539-580 en Page, AL; RH Miller & DR Keeney (Eds.). Methods of Soils Analysis. II. Chemical and Microbiological Properties. Soil Science Society of America. Madison, Wisconsin.
OLSON, J. 1963. Energy storage and the balance of producers and decomposers in ecological systems. Ecology 44:322-331.
PRESCOTT, CE. 2005. Do rates of litter decomposition tell us anything we really need to know? Forest Ecol. Manage. 220:66-74.
REYES-REYES, BG; E ZAMORA-VILLAFRANCO; ML REYES- REYES; JT FRIAS-FERNANDEZ; V OLALDE-PORTUGAL ET AL. 2003. Decomposition of leaves of huisache
(Acacia tortuoso) and mesquite (Prosopis spp.) in soil of the central highlands of Mexico. Plant Soil 256:359-370.
ROBERTSON, GP & EA PAUL. 2000. Decomposition and soil organic matter dynamics Pp. 104-116 en: Sala, OE; RB Jackson; HA Mooney & RW Howarth (Eds.). Methods in Ecosystem Science. Springer-Verlag, New York.
ROBERTSON, GP; DC COLEMAN; CS BLEDSOE & P SOLLINS (Eds). 1999. Standard Soil Methods for Long-term Ecological Research. Oxford University Press, New York.
SANTOS, PF; NZ ELKINS; Y STEINBERGER & WG WHITFORD. 1984. A comparison of surface and buried Larrea tridentate leaf litter decomposition in North American hot deserts. Ecology 65:278-284.
SARIYILDIZ, T & JM ANDERSON. 2003. Interactions between litter quality, decomposition and soil fertility: a laboratory study. Soil Biol. Biochem. 35:391-399.
SCHOLES, RJ & BH WALKER (Eds). 1993. An African Savanna. Cambridge. UK.
SEMMARTIN, M. 2006. Dinámica de la descomposición y la mineralización neta del nitrógeno y del fósforo de heces de vacunos en pastoreo sobre un pastizal templado. Rev. Arg. Prod. Animal 26:193-202.
SINGH, B. 1996. Influence of forest litter on reclamation of semiarid sodic soil. Arid Soil Res. Rehabil. 10:201-211.
TORRES, PA; AB ABRIL & EH BUCHER. 2005. Microbial succession in litter decomposition in the Semi-arid Chaco woodland. Soil Biol. Biochem. 37:49-54.
VAIERETTI, MV; N PEREZ-HARGUINDEGY; DE GURVICH; AM CINGOLANI & M CABIDO. 2005. Decomposition dynamics and physico-chemical leaf quality of
abundaba species in a montane woodland in central Argentina. Plant. Soil. 278:223-234.
VAN SOEST, PJ & JB ROBERTSON. 1980. Systems of analysis for evaluating fibrous feeds. Pp. 49-60 en Pidgen, WJ; CC Balch & M Graham (Eds.). Standardization of Analytical Methodology for Feeds. Int. Develop. Center and Int. Union Nutr. Sci. Ottawa, Canada.
VILLAGRA, PE & R VILLALBA. 2001. Estructura poblacional del algarrobal de la reserva de Ñacuñán. Pp. 71-75 en: Claver, S & SA Roig-Juñent (Eds.). El Desierto del Monte: La Reserva de Biosfera de Ñacuñán. IADIZA-MAB-UNESCO. Mendoza, Argentina.
VITOUSEK, P; D TURNER; W PARTON & R SANFORD. 1994. Litter decomposition on the Mauna Loa environmental matrix, Hawaii: patterns, mechanisms and models. Ecology 75:418-429.
WHITFORD, WG; Y STEINBERGER; W MACKAY, LW PARKER; D FRECKMAN ET AL. 1986. Rainfall and decomposition in the Chihuahua desert. Oecología 68:512-515.
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2008-08-01
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Noe, L., & Abril, A. (2008). Litter quality, decomposition process and soil fertility relationships in the Monte desert (Argentina). Ecología Austral, 18(2), 181–193. Retrieved from https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/1385
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