September 22, 2016

Contribution of Photodegradation to Litter Decomposition in Semiarid Mediterranean Grasslands Depends on its Interaction with Local Humidity Conditions, Litter Quality and Position

This new BC3 Journal Article look at how UV radiation interacts with prevailing climatic conditions and litter quality to determine leaf litter decompositionas it is fundamental for understanding soil carbon cycling pathways and ecosystem functioning in drylands. We carried out a field manipulative experiment to investigate how litter quality (labile and nitrogen-rich Retama sphaerocarpa vs. recalcitrant and nitrogen-poor Stipa tenacissima), position (on the ground vs. standing) and different UV radiation levels (UV pass vs. UV block) affect litter decomposition rates at two semiarid Mediterranean steppes.




María de Maeztu Excellence Unit 2023-2027 Ref. CEX2021-001201-M, funded by MCIN/AEI /10.13039/501100011033

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