Title
Direct effects of litter decomposition on soil dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen in a tropical rainforest
Author
Zhou, Wen-Jun
Publication
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Year
2015
Volume
81
Corresponding Author
Zhang, YP
Abstract
To clarify how litter decomposition processes affect soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and soil dissolved nitrogen (DN) dynamics, we conducted a field experiment on leaf litter and collected DOC and DN from the underlying soil in a tropical rainforest in Xishuangbanna, southwest China. Principal components analysis (PCA) showed the first PCA axis (corresponding to degraded litter quantity and quality) explained 61.3% and 71.2% of variation in DOC and DN concentrations, respectively. Stepwise linear regression analysis indicated that litter carbon mass controlled DOC and hemicellulose mass controlled DN concentrations. Litter decomposition was the predominant factor controlling surface-soil DOC and DN dynamics in this tropical rainforest. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.