Decomposition of Mixed Litter in a Kashmir Himalayan Grassland

Sumira Tyub, Zafar Reshi

Abstract


Because of being a key process in nutrient and carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, decomposition of mixed litterin Kashmir Himalayan grassland was studied in relation to various biotic and abiotic factors. Litter decompositionrate was significantly higher in buried litter bags irrespective of their mesh size. Using the negative exponentialmodel of litter breakdown, the decomposition constant (k) varied from !0.005 to !0.010 d-1 depending upon theplacement (either on soil surface or buried into the soil) and mesh size of litter bags. Soil microbes, particularlysaprophytic fungi, were of significance in the decomposition of mixed litter. The relationships between litterdecomposition and some biotic and climatic factors examined through use of Pearson’s correlation and stepwiseregression analyses revealed that soil temperature together with soil fungi explained significant proportion of thevariability in the mass loss of litter during the study period.

Keywords


Detritus, Decomposition Rate, Soil Enzymes, Microbial Activity, Abiotic Factors, Biotic Factors, Soil Respiration

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