title: The effects of temperature on decomposition and allelopathic phytotoxicity of boneseed litter.
abstract: Decomposition of plant litter is a fundamental process in ecosystem function, carbon and nutrient cycling and, by extension, climate change. This study aimed to investigate the role of temperature on the decomposition of water soluble phenolics (WSP), carbon and soil nutrients in conjunction with the phytotoxicity dynamics of Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. monilifera (boneseed) litter. Treatments consisted of three factors including decomposition materials (litter alone, litter with soil and soil alone), decomposition periods and temperatures (5-15, 15-25 and 25-35°C (night/day)). Leachates were collected on 0, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 60th days to analyse physico-chemical parameters and phytotoxicity. Water soluble phenolics and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) increased with increasing temperature while nutrients like SO4(-2) and NO3(-1) decreased. Speed of germination, hypocotyl and radical length and weight of Lactuca sativa exposed to leachates were decreased with increasing decomposition temperature. All treatment components had significant effects on these parameters. There had a strong correlation between DOC and WSP, and WSP content of the leachates with radical length of test species. This study identified complex interactivity among temperature, WSP, DOC and soil nutrient dynamics of litter occupied soil and that these factors work together to influence phytotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, Melbourne, Vic 8001, Australia. Electronic address: mdabdullah.harun@live.vu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Md Abdullah Yousuf
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Al Harun
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, Melbourne, Vic 8001, Australia.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, Melbourne, Vic 8001, Australia.
authors.forename: Md Nazim
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Uddin
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, Melbourne, Vic 8001, Australia.
authors.forename: Randall W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D064089:Allelopathy; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018545:Lactuca / Q000187:drug effects; D012639:Seeds; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D006812:Humic Substances; D012987:Soil
keywords: Boneseed; DOC; Nutrient cycling; Phenolics; Phytotoxicity; Temperature