Decomposition of beech leaves and roots in the topsoil and subsoil of a sandy Cambisol: Results of a one-year incubation

摘要

The fate of litter is regulated by its quality and quantity, the activity of soil microorganisms and edaphic conditions. Despite edaphic conditions differing between topsoils and subsoils in availability of water and oxygen, nutrient content and microbial activity, the effects of soil depth on litter decomposition are seldom investigated. The present work studied the mineralization of beech leaf litter (C/N = 28, collected after litterfall) and fine roots ((C/N = 45, taken from living trees) in two soil depths (2-10 cm vs 145-153 cm). Both plant materials were air-dried, cut to 2 mm, applied at a rate of 8 g kg(-1) to the sandy Cambisol and incubated for 300 days at 10 degrees C.