3. Introduction
/Recalcitrance
Accumulation of SOM is
determined by the rates
of primary production
and decomposition.
PP CO2
Focus on the quality of
produced material and
the decomposition of
this material.
[Faculty of Science
Biology]
4. Introduction
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3
/Recalcitrance
solubles
non-lignified carbohydrates
Most decomposition ex- lignified carbohydrates
periments have been lignin + lignin-like compounds
Remaining mass
done with “fresh litter”.
The recalcitrance of soil
organic matter is a lot
higher.
By extending my litter
decomposition experi-
ments in time, I’m follow-
ing the later stages in de-
composition.
Time
Berg & Laskowski 2006
[Faculty of Science
Biology]
7. Introduction
/Research question
Does long-term fertilization amplify or neutralize the positive effect of soil
warming on the decomposition of recalcitrant litter?
Is chemical composition a good predictor of decomposability of recalcitrant
litter?
[Faculty of Science
Biology]
8. Iceland
Methods
/Site description
Field site is located near
Hveragerði in Iceland.
Geothermally heated val- Reykjavik Hveragerdi
ley with patchwork of
heated and ambient wet
grassland soils.
Land age
< 0.8 M y
0.8 - 3.3 M y
3.3 - 15 M y
[Faculty of Science
Biology]
9. Water flow
Methods
/Experimental Bufferzone
setup Plot
C N
Plots consist of two adja-
cent subplots, a fertilized
and upstream its unferti-
lized control. 25
Air temperature: ~10°C Ambient
Warmed
20
Soil temperature (°C)
Plots were layed out in
2005 on warmed (~25°C) 15
and ambient grass patch-
es. 10
5
Dead standing litter
(grasses and sedges) 0
from every plot was har- Fertilized Unfertilized
vested in May 2009 and Plot treatment
pouled per treatment.
[Faculty of Science
Biology]
10. Methods
/Experimental
setup
Litter was incubated at
two different tempera-
tures (15°C and 25°C)
with and without extra ni-
trogen (urea)
for 365 days with three
harvests (0, 175 and 365 0 days 175 days 365 days
days).
Harvested material was
used for determination of
mass loss, C:N ratio and
lignin.
[Faculty of Science
Biology]
11. Lignin determination
Methods
/Experimental dry litter
setup water,
methanol, lipids, sugars,
chloroform soluble phenolics
Lignin content was
measured by sequential
extraction of lipids, water
hydrochlo-
solubles and hydrolys- ric acid starch, fructans,
able carbon. pectins, hemicel-
lulose
C and N
By analysing the carbon analysis,
and nitrogen content of calculation
the residue the lignin
content was calculated. cellulose lignin
Poorter & Villar 1997
[Faculty of Science
Biology]
12. Results
Mass remaining after 365 days (%)
/Incubation Ambient
Warmed
When litter was incu- 55
bated at plot-own situa-
tion an accelerated de-
50
composition was found
in litter from unfertilized,
warmed plots incubated 45
at 25°C without addition-
al nitrogen.
40
No significant tempera-
ture effect was measured
Fertilized Unfertilized
within the fertilized treat-
ment. Treatment
No significant fertiliza-
tion effect was measured
within the ambient treat-
ment. [Faculty of Science
Biology]
13. 43 Ambient
Litter carbon content (%)
Warmed
42
Results 41
/Litter quality
40
39
38
Initial litter C concentra- 37
tion is higher and N con-
centration is lower in lit-
Litter nitrogen content (%)
1.6
ter from warmed plots. 1.5
1.4
Fertilization of the plots 1.3
1.2
leads to a lower carbon 1.1
and nitrogen concentra- 1.0
tion in the litter.
36
Initial carbon to nitrogen
Litter C:N ratio (g g-1)
34
ratio is higher in litter 32
from warmed plots. 30
28
Fertilization of the 26
warmed plots leads to a Fertilized Unfertilized
higher C:N ratio in the lit- Plot treatment
ter. [Faculty of Science
Biology]
14. Ambient
Litter lignin content (%)
Warmed
Results 15
/Litter quality
10
Initial litter lignin concen-
tration is higher in litter 5
from warmed plots.
Initial litter lignin concen-
tration is lower in litter 12
Litter lignin:N ratio (g g-1)
from fertilized plots
10
8
6
4
2
Fertilized Unfertilized
Plot treatment
[Faculty of Science
Biology]
15. Discussion
/Quality paradox
Warming of plots causes a ‘time shift’, i.e. the litter from warmed plots is in a
further stage in the decomposition process. Due to the loss of easily decom-
posable carbon the concentration of recalcitrant carbon is higher.
Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Ambient Snow
Warmed
Harvest End growing
season
Fertilizing of plots causes a higher biomass production. Fertilized plants grow
faster due to the production of easily composable (i.e. decomposable) plant
material. The production of recalcitrant plant material takes more time and the
overall recalcitrant compound concentration will be lower.
[Faculty of Science
Biology]
16. Discussion
Mass remaining after 365 days (%)
/Interaction ef- Ambient
fect 55
Warmed
Nitrogen fertilization
may neutralize the posi- 50
tive effect of increased
temperature on the de-
composition of recalci- 45
trant litter in grasslands.
40
Fertilized Unfertilized
Treatment
[Faculty of Science
Biology]
17. Incubator treatment
Discussion 70
Control 15°C Control 25°C
/More analyses
60 Ambient
Warmed
Incubating without ad- 50
Mass remaining after 365 days (%)
ditional nitrogen shows
a clear positive effect of 40
plot temperature on the
decomposition rate. 30
This effect is gone when
incubating with addition- 70
Nitrogen 15°C Nitrogen 25°C
al nitrogen.
60
Further discussion
50
about this research at
dECOlab meeting. 40
30
Fertilized Unfertilized Fertilized Unfertilized
Plot treatment
[Faculty of Science
Biology]
18. Conclusion
/Neutralizing effect
Nitrogen fertilization may neutralize the positive effect of increased temperature
on the decomposition of recalcitrant litter in grasslands.
/Caution with quality
Linking litter decomposability to the chemical composition of litter is “tricky busi-
ness”. A high C:N ratio or a high lignin concentration does not necessarily mean
low decomposability.
[Faculty of Science
Biology]