Leaching and freeze-thaw events contribute to litter decomposition - a review

Abstract

Litter decomposition is vital for carbon and nutrient turnover in terrestrial ecosystems, and this process has now been thoroughly demonstrated to be regulated by various mechanisms. The total environment has been continuously changing in recent decades, especially in high-latitude regions; these alterations, however, profoundly contribute to the decomposition process, but a comprehensive recognition has not available. Here we reviewed the empirical observations and current knowledge regarding how hydrological leaching and freeze-thaw events modulate early decomposition of plant litter. Leaching contributes a considerable percentage of mass loss and carbon and nutrient release in early stage of decomposition, but the magnitudes are different between species levels depending on the chemical traits. Frequent freezing and thawing events could positively influence decomposition rate in cold biomes but also hamper soil decomposer and there is no general and predictable pattern has been emerged. Further experiments should be manipulated to estimate how the altered freezing and thawing effect on carbon and nutrient release from plant litter to better understanding the changing environment on litter decomposition.