Isabelle van der Zanden, Gelieke G.T. Steeghs, Lieke Moereels, G. F. Ciska Veen
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Food forests are perennial, multi-layered food production systems gaining popularity as alternatives to intensive, input-dependent agriculture. With limited use of external inputs, these systems rely on nutrient recycling via litter decomposition for plant nutrient supply. However, little is known about decomposition dynamics during food forest development. We studied how litter of Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. (black alder), Corylus avellana (L.) (common hazel) and Castanea sativa Mill. (sweet chestnut) (high to low litter quality) was decomposed in food forests planted on grasslands versus neighboring grasslands. Using litter bags with varying mesh sizes, we assessed the relative contribution of microbes, micro-, meso- and macrofauna on short-term litter mass loss. We also quantified abundance and/or biomass of key decomposer groups. Decomposer communities differed between the land use types, with food forests harboring a higher abundance of oribatid mites, but a lower abundance and biomass of earthworms and lower biomass of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi than grasslands. We found little differences in litter mass loss between the systems, except for a higher mass loss of high-quality litter in grasslands when the litter was accessible to the entire decomposer community. The lowest-quality (sweet chestnut) litter decomposed slowest and decomposition rates were neither impacted by mesh size nor land use. Overall, high-quality leaf litter generally decomposed faster in grasslands than food forests and the different decomposer communities in young food forests did not favor the breakdown of (recalcitrant) litter. Future research could explore the potential implications of these findings for plant nutrient provisioning in self-sustaining agroecosystems.
期刊介绍:
Agroforestry Systems is an international scientific journal that publishes results of novel, high impact original research, critical reviews and short communications on any aspect of agroforestry. The journal particularly encourages contributions that demonstrate the role of agroforestry in providing commodity as well non-commodity benefits such as ecosystem services. Papers dealing with both biophysical and socioeconomic aspects are welcome. These include results of investigations of a fundamental or applied nature dealing with integrated systems involving trees and crops and/or livestock. Manuscripts that are purely descriptive in nature or confirmatory in nature of well-established findings, and with limited international scope are discouraged. To be acceptable for publication, the information presented must be relevant to a context wider than the specific location where the study was undertaken, and provide new insight or make a significant contribution to the agroforestry knowledge base