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Precipitation Regime and Nitrogen Addition Effects on Leaf Litter Decomposition in Tropical Dry Forests
Author(s) -
Bejarano Marylin,
Crosby María M.,
Parra Víctor,
Etchevers Jorge D.,
Campo Julio
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
biotropica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1744-7429
pISSN - 0006-3606
DOI - 10.1111/btp.12127
Subject(s) - decomposition , nitrogen , litter , precipitation , yucatan peninsula , plant litter , chemical process of decomposition , carbon fibers , environmental science , agronomy , ecology , chemistry , ecosystem , biology , geography , mathematics , organic chemistry , algorithm , meteorology , composite number
We conducted a year‐long field experiment to investigate how nitrogen addition affected decomposition of Piscidia piscipula and Gymnopodium floribundum along a precipitation gradient in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Nitrogen addition did not affect decomposition rates at the drier sites. However, fertilization at the wettest site increased the decomposition of Gymnopodium litter and decreased the decomposition of Piscidia litter. Water‐soluble carbon and lignin, and water‐soluble carbon and nitrogen concentrations were the best predictors of decomposition for Gymnopodium and Piscidia litters, respectively. We conclude that the effects of nitrogen addition on decomposition will vary from site to site as a function of mean annual precipitation, inherent soil fertility, and species identity.