title: Diversity of shrub tree layer, leaf litter decomposition and N release in a Brazilian Cerrado under N, P and N plus P additions.
abstract: This study investigated changes in diversity of shrub-tree layer, leaf decomposition rates, nutrient release and soil NO fluxes of a Brazilian savanna (cerrado sensu stricto) under N, P and N plus P additions. Simultaneous addition of N and P affected density, dominance, richness and diversity patterns more significantly than addition of N or P separately. Leaf litter decomposition rates increased in P and NP plots but did not differ in N plots in comparison to control plots. N addition increased N mass loss, while the combined addition of N and P resulted in an immobilization of N in leaf litter. Soil NO emissions were also higher when N was applied without P. The results indicate that if the availability of P is not increased proportionally to the availability of N, the losses of N are intensified.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF 70919-970, Brazil. tamiel@unb.br
authors.forename: Tamiel Khan Baiocchi
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: Mercedes Maria da Cunha
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bustamante
authors.forename: Alessandra Rodrigues
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kozovits
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D001938:Brazil; D017753:Ecosystem; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D058458:Nitrogen Cycle; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D014197:Trees / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen