Effect of Detritus Manipulation on Different Organic Matter Decompositions in Temperate Deciduous Forest Soils

Abstract

Soil organic matter supply is mainly derived from plant litter. The early stages of litter degradation is a very dynamic process. Thus, its study is important for understanding litter degradation and the control factors of different biomes and ecosystems. In the frame of the Síkfőkút DIRT (Detritus Input and Removal Treatments) Project, the effect of organic matter treatment was studied on the rate of decomposition of organic matter by applying different kinds of organic materials (leaf and wood litter, green and rooibos tea material, and cellulose cotton wool). During long-term experiments, we intended to investigate how the different organic matter manipulations changed by the soil microbial community and how it affects the degradation of different quality organic matter in the soil. The important main purpose of the research was to investigate litter degradation and its main regulators, contributing to both current and future climate scenarios. According to our results, in the case of litter-doubling treatments, we experienced a greater loss of organic matter compared to the weight of the litter bags placed in the soil of organic matter-withdrawal treatments. Furthermore, based on our results, we found that the decomposition rate is influenced by litter quality (leaf and cellulose wool) that is to be decomposed and by the applied litter treatments depending on the time allowed for decomposition. A drier climate by slowing down the degradation processes and by increasing the proportion of recalcitrant molecules in the detritus may increase the turnover time, which may lead to an increase in soil organic carbon (SOC).