Leaf litter decomposition and soil carbon dioxide fluxes across climatic gradient in tropical montane and lowland forests

Leaf litter decomposition and soil respiration are of great interest in climate change studies due to their roles in recycling carbon and nutrients. These processes can be markedly different in tropical montane and lowland forests. Litterbag technique was used to determine the decomposition and nut...

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Main Authors: Vijayanathan, Jeyanny, Wan Abdul Kadir, Wan Rasidah, Mohd Hanif, Ahmad Husni, Balasundram, Siva Kumar, Sulaiman, Muhammad Firdaus, Abdu, Arifin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Forest Research Institute Malaysia 2015
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/45323/1/LEAF.pdf
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author Vijayanathan, Jeyanny
Wan Abdul Kadir, Wan Rasidah
Mohd Hanif, Ahmad Husni
Balasundram, Siva Kumar
Sulaiman, Muhammad Firdaus
Abdu, Arifin
author_facet Vijayanathan, Jeyanny
Wan Abdul Kadir, Wan Rasidah
Mohd Hanif, Ahmad Husni
Balasundram, Siva Kumar
Sulaiman, Muhammad Firdaus
Abdu, Arifin
author_sort Vijayanathan, Jeyanny
collection UPM
description Leaf litter decomposition and soil respiration are of great interest in climate change studies due to their roles in recycling carbon and nutrients. These processes can be markedly different in tropical montane and lowland forests. Litterbag technique was used to determine the decomposition and nutrient dynamics of leaf litter in two different tropical forest types in Pahang, Malaysia for 480 days. Soil CO2 fluxes were measured periodically for up to 360 days. Mass loss, total C, N, S, P, K, Mn, lignin, cellulose as well as C:N and lignin:N dynamics of decaying leaves were quantified. Various mathematical models and regression analysis were used to describe litter mass loss trends. Rapid decomposition (k: -0.004 day-1) and weight loss (> 80%) took place in the lowland forest compared with the montane forest. Significant linear regression relationships between mass loss and litter quality were obtained for all sites except for cellulose (montane forest). Low soil CO2 fluxes (two to three folds) and 38% slower decomposition due to reduced soil and air temperatures were found in the montane forest, suggesting its role as potential temporary C sink. Decomposition rate, C:N, lignin:N and soil respiration can be used as potential indicators to predict C balance in forests.
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spelling upm.eprints-453232021-04-18T01:36:36Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/45323/ Leaf litter decomposition and soil carbon dioxide fluxes across climatic gradient in tropical montane and lowland forests Vijayanathan, Jeyanny Wan Abdul Kadir, Wan Rasidah Mohd Hanif, Ahmad Husni Balasundram, Siva Kumar Sulaiman, Muhammad Firdaus Abdu, Arifin Leaf litter decomposition and soil respiration are of great interest in climate change studies due to their roles in recycling carbon and nutrients. These processes can be markedly different in tropical montane and lowland forests. Litterbag technique was used to determine the decomposition and nutrient dynamics of leaf litter in two different tropical forest types in Pahang, Malaysia for 480 days. Soil CO2 fluxes were measured periodically for up to 360 days. Mass loss, total C, N, S, P, K, Mn, lignin, cellulose as well as C:N and lignin:N dynamics of decaying leaves were quantified. Various mathematical models and regression analysis were used to describe litter mass loss trends. Rapid decomposition (k: -0.004 day-1) and weight loss (> 80%) took place in the lowland forest compared with the montane forest. Significant linear regression relationships between mass loss and litter quality were obtained for all sites except for cellulose (montane forest). Low soil CO2 fluxes (two to three folds) and 38% slower decomposition due to reduced soil and air temperatures were found in the montane forest, suggesting its role as potential temporary C sink. Decomposition rate, C:N, lignin:N and soil respiration can be used as potential indicators to predict C balance in forests. Forest Research Institute Malaysia 2015 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/45323/1/LEAF.pdf Vijayanathan, Jeyanny and Wan Abdul Kadir, Wan Rasidah and Mohd Hanif, Ahmad Husni and Balasundram, Siva Kumar and Sulaiman, Muhammad Firdaus and Abdu, Arifin (2015) Leaf litter decomposition and soil carbon dioxide fluxes across climatic gradient in tropical montane and lowland forests. Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 27 (4). pp. 472-487. ISSN 0128-1283; ESSN: 2521-9847 https://www.frim.gov.my/publication/journal-of-tropical-forest-science-jtfs/
spellingShingle Vijayanathan, Jeyanny
Wan Abdul Kadir, Wan Rasidah
Mohd Hanif, Ahmad Husni
Balasundram, Siva Kumar
Sulaiman, Muhammad Firdaus
Abdu, Arifin
Leaf litter decomposition and soil carbon dioxide fluxes across climatic gradient in tropical montane and lowland forests
title Leaf litter decomposition and soil carbon dioxide fluxes across climatic gradient in tropical montane and lowland forests
title_full Leaf litter decomposition and soil carbon dioxide fluxes across climatic gradient in tropical montane and lowland forests
title_fullStr Leaf litter decomposition and soil carbon dioxide fluxes across climatic gradient in tropical montane and lowland forests
title_full_unstemmed Leaf litter decomposition and soil carbon dioxide fluxes across climatic gradient in tropical montane and lowland forests
title_short Leaf litter decomposition and soil carbon dioxide fluxes across climatic gradient in tropical montane and lowland forests
title_sort leaf litter decomposition and soil carbon dioxide fluxes across climatic gradient in tropical montane and lowland forests
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/45323/1/LEAF.pdf
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