Tea Bag Index to Assess Carbon Decomposition Rate in Cranberry Agroecosystems
In cranberry production systems, stands are covered by 1–5 cm of sand every 2–5 years to stimulate plant growth, resulting in alternate layers of sand and litter in soil upper layers. However, almost intact twigs and leaves remain in subsurface layers, indicating a slow decomposition rate. The Tea B...
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Soil Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/5/3/44 |
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| author | Wilfried Dossou-Yovo Serge-Étienne Parent Noura Ziadi Élizabeth Parent Léon-Étienne Parent |
| author_facet | Wilfried Dossou-Yovo Serge-Étienne Parent Noura Ziadi Élizabeth Parent Léon-Étienne Parent |
| author_sort | Wilfried Dossou-Yovo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In cranberry production systems, stands are covered by 1–5 cm of sand every 2–5 years to stimulate plant growth, resulting in alternate layers of sand and litter in soil upper layers. However, almost intact twigs and leaves remain in subsurface layers, indicating a slow decomposition rate. The Tea Bag Index (TBI) provides an internationally standardized methodology to compare litter decomposition rates (k) and stabilization (S) among terrestrial ecosystems. However, TBI parameters may be altered by time-dependent changes in the contact between litter and their immediate environment. The aims of this study were to determine the TBI of cranberry agroecosystems and compare it to the TBI of other terrestrial ecosystems. Litters were standardized green tea, standardized rooibos tea, and cranberry residues collected on the plantation floor. Litter decomposition was monitored during two consecutive years. Added N did not affect TBI parameters (k and S) due to possible N leaching and strong acidic soil condition. Decomposition rates (k) averaged (mean ± SD) 9.7 × 10<sup>−3</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> ± 1.6 × 10<sup>−3</sup> for green tea, 3.3 × 10<sup>−3</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> ± 0.8 × 10<sup>−5</sup> for rooibos tea, and 0.4 × 10<sup>−3</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> ± 0.86 × 10<sup>−3</sup> for cranberry residues due to large differences in biochemical composition and tissue structure. The TBI decomposition rate (k) was 0.006 day<sup>−1</sup> ± 0.002 in the low range among terrestrial ecosystems, and the stabilization factor (S) was 0.28 ± 0.08, indicating high potential for carbon accumulation in cranberry agroecosystems. Decomposition rates of tea litters were reduced by fractal coefficients of 0.6 for green tea and 0.4 for rooibos tea, indicating protection mechanisms building up with time in the tea bags. While the computation of the TBI stabilization factor may be biased because the green tea was not fully decomposed, fractal kinetics could be used as additional index to compare agroecosystems. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-5cec0bf9203b42d4bafc0db187ea9ad32023-11-22T15:17:44ZengMDPI AGSoil Systems2571-87892021-08-01534410.3390/soilsystems5030044Tea Bag Index to Assess Carbon Decomposition Rate in Cranberry AgroecosystemsWilfried Dossou-Yovo0Serge-Étienne Parent1Noura Ziadi2Élizabeth Parent3Léon-Étienne Parent4Department of Soils and Agri-Food Engineering, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaDepartment of Soils and Agri-Food Engineering, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Quebec Research and Development Center, 2560 Hochelaga Boulevard, Quebec, QC G1V 2J3, CanadaDepartment of Soils and Agri-Food Engineering, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaDepartment of Soils and Agri-Food Engineering, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaIn cranberry production systems, stands are covered by 1–5 cm of sand every 2–5 years to stimulate plant growth, resulting in alternate layers of sand and litter in soil upper layers. However, almost intact twigs and leaves remain in subsurface layers, indicating a slow decomposition rate. The Tea Bag Index (TBI) provides an internationally standardized methodology to compare litter decomposition rates (k) and stabilization (S) among terrestrial ecosystems. However, TBI parameters may be altered by time-dependent changes in the contact between litter and their immediate environment. The aims of this study were to determine the TBI of cranberry agroecosystems and compare it to the TBI of other terrestrial ecosystems. Litters were standardized green tea, standardized rooibos tea, and cranberry residues collected on the plantation floor. Litter decomposition was monitored during two consecutive years. Added N did not affect TBI parameters (k and S) due to possible N leaching and strong acidic soil condition. Decomposition rates (k) averaged (mean ± SD) 9.7 × 10<sup>−3</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> ± 1.6 × 10<sup>−3</sup> for green tea, 3.3 × 10<sup>−3</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> ± 0.8 × 10<sup>−5</sup> for rooibos tea, and 0.4 × 10<sup>−3</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> ± 0.86 × 10<sup>−3</sup> for cranberry residues due to large differences in biochemical composition and tissue structure. The TBI decomposition rate (k) was 0.006 day<sup>−1</sup> ± 0.002 in the low range among terrestrial ecosystems, and the stabilization factor (S) was 0.28 ± 0.08, indicating high potential for carbon accumulation in cranberry agroecosystems. Decomposition rates of tea litters were reduced by fractal coefficients of 0.6 for green tea and 0.4 for rooibos tea, indicating protection mechanisms building up with time in the tea bags. While the computation of the TBI stabilization factor may be biased because the green tea was not fully decomposed, fractal kinetics could be used as additional index to compare agroecosystems.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/5/3/44carbon fluxfractal kineticsnitrogen fertilizationTea Bag Indexpodzolsgleysols |
| spellingShingle | Wilfried Dossou-Yovo Serge-Étienne Parent Noura Ziadi Élizabeth Parent Léon-Étienne Parent Tea Bag Index to Assess Carbon Decomposition Rate in Cranberry Agroecosystems Soil Systems carbon flux fractal kinetics nitrogen fertilization Tea Bag Index podzols gleysols |
| title | Tea Bag Index to Assess Carbon Decomposition Rate in Cranberry Agroecosystems |
| title_full | Tea Bag Index to Assess Carbon Decomposition Rate in Cranberry Agroecosystems |
| title_fullStr | Tea Bag Index to Assess Carbon Decomposition Rate in Cranberry Agroecosystems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tea Bag Index to Assess Carbon Decomposition Rate in Cranberry Agroecosystems |
| title_short | Tea Bag Index to Assess Carbon Decomposition Rate in Cranberry Agroecosystems |
| title_sort | tea bag index to assess carbon decomposition rate in cranberry agroecosystems |
| topic | carbon flux fractal kinetics nitrogen fertilization Tea Bag Index podzols gleysols |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/5/3/44 |
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