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Purpose <p>Forest litter decomposition is a critical component of the global carbon budget and regulates nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. However, the drivers of <i>Picea mongolica</i> litter decomposition across different forest ages remain poorly understood. This study quantified decomposition rates and identified the key influencing factors in sandy forests of varying stand ages.</p> Materials and methods <p>Litter decomposition was examined in three stands of <i>P. mongolica</i> aged 5, 30, and 40&#xa0;years located in Baiyinaobao National Nature Reserve, Keshiketeng County, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Litter mass-loss rates, carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents, and the corresponding C:N, C:P and N:P stoichiometric ratios were analyzed to evaluate decomposition dynamics and the factors driving them.</p> Results and discussion <p>The decomposition coefficients (k) for the 5-, 30-, and 40-year-old forests were 0.252, 0.331, and 0.357, respectively. Litter half-lives (t<sub>0.5</sub>) ranged from 1.9 to 2.7&#xa0;years, while turnover times (t<sub>0.95</sub>) ranged from 8.3 to 11.2&#xa0;years. Significant differences in mass-loss rates (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) were observed among the three stands, with the highest decomposition rate in the 40-year-old forest (28.95%) and the lowest in the 5-year-old forest (21.38%). Decomposition duration and forest age were negatively correlated with total C, total K, C/N, and C/P ratios but positively correlated with total N and N/P ratios. Soil temperature and moisture significantly influenced total C, total P, total N, C/N ratios, and decomposition coefficients.</p> Conclusions <p>Regulating soil temperature, humidity, and decomposition duration is critical for optimizing nutrient release from <i>P. mongolica</i> litter. These findings highlight the importance of forest age and environmental factors in managing nutrient cycling in sandy forest ecosystems.</p>

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Factors affecting Picea mongolica litter decomposition in forests of different ages

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月2日

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  • Yunchao Liu,
  • Lixin Chen,
  • Wenbiao Duan,
  • Jianxing Chen,
  • Xiujuan Li,
  • Lin Yang,
  • Yichao Wang

摘要

Purpose

Forest litter decomposition is a critical component of the global carbon budget and regulates nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. However, the drivers of Picea mongolica litter decomposition across different forest ages remain poorly understood. This study quantified decomposition rates and identified the key influencing factors in sandy forests of varying stand ages.

Materials and methods

Litter decomposition was examined in three stands of P. mongolica aged 5, 30, and 40 years located in Baiyinaobao National Nature Reserve, Keshiketeng County, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Litter mass-loss rates, carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents, and the corresponding C:N, C:P and N:P stoichiometric ratios were analyzed to evaluate decomposition dynamics and the factors driving them.

Results and discussion

The decomposition coefficients (k) for the 5-, 30-, and 40-year-old forests were 0.252, 0.331, and 0.357, respectively. Litter half-lives (t0.5) ranged from 1.9 to 2.7 years, while turnover times (t0.95) ranged from 8.3 to 11.2 years. Significant differences in mass-loss rates (p < 0.05) were observed among the three stands, with the highest decomposition rate in the 40-year-old forest (28.95%) and the lowest in the 5-year-old forest (21.38%). Decomposition duration and forest age were negatively correlated with total C, total K, C/N, and C/P ratios but positively correlated with total N and N/P ratios. Soil temperature and moisture significantly influenced total C, total P, total N, C/N ratios, and decomposition coefficients.

Conclusions

Regulating soil temperature, humidity, and decomposition duration is critical for optimizing nutrient release from P. mongolica litter. These findings highlight the importance of forest age and environmental factors in managing nutrient cycling in sandy forest ecosystems.