Nitrogen additions and litter decomposition: A meta-analysis
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Date
2005-12
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Ecological Society of America
Abstract
We conducted a meta-analysis of previously published empirical studies that have examined the effects of nitrogen (N) enrichment on litter decomposition. Our objective was to provide a synthesis of existing data that comprehensively and quantitatively evaluates how environmental and experimental factors interact with N additions to influence litter mass loss. Nitrogen enrichment, when averaged across all studies, had no statistically significant effect on litter decay. However, we observed significant effects of fertilization rate, site-specific ambient N-deposition level, and litter quality. Litter decomposition was inhibited by N additions when fertilization rates were 2–20 times the anthropogenic N-deposition level, when ambient N deposition was 5–10 kg N·ha^−1·yr^−1, or when litter quality was low (typically high-lignin litters). Decomposition was stimulated at field sites exposed to low ambient N deposition (<5 kg N·ha^−1·yr^−1) and for high-quality (low-lignin) litters. Fertilizer type, litterbag mesh size, and climate did not influence the litter decay response to N additions.
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M. Knorr, S. D. Frey and P. S. Curtis, "Nitrogen additions and litter decomposition: A meta-analysis," Ecology 86, no. 12 (2005), doi:10.1890/05-0150