title: CO2 enrichment and N addition increase nutrient loss from decomposing leaf litter in subtropical model forest ecosystems.
abstract: As atmospheric CO2 concentration increases, many experiments have been carried out to study effects of CO2 enrichment on litter decomposition and nutrient release. However, the result is still uncertain. Meanwhile, the impact of CO2 enrichment on nutrients other than N and P are far less studied. Using open-top chambers, we examined effects of elevated CO2 and N addition on leaf litter decomposition and nutrient release in subtropical model forest ecosystems. We found that both elevated CO2 and N addition increased nutrient (C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Zn) loss from the decomposing litter. The N, P, Ca and Zn loss was more than tripled in the chambers exposed to both elevated CO2 and N addition than those in the control chambers after 21 months of treatment. The stimulation of nutrient loss under elevated CO2 was associated with the increased soil moisture, the higher leaf litter quality and the greater soil acidity. Accelerated nutrient release under N addition was related to the higher leaf litter quality, the increased soil microbial biomass and the greater soil acidity. Our results imply that elevated CO2 and N addition will increase nutrient cycling in subtropical China under the future global change.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xingke Road 723, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510650, China.
authors.forename: Juxiu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: 1] Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xingke Road 723, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510650, China [2] Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Xiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xingke Road 723, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510650, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xingke Road 723, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510650, China.
authors.forename: Tianfeng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xingke Road 723, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510650, China.
authors.forename: Wenjuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: 1] Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xingke Road 723, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510650, China [2] Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Yiyong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D002681:China; D017753:Ecosystem; D065928:Forests; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil; D014197:Trees; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009584:Nitrogen