Do Silvi-Medicinal Plantations Affect Tree Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Mineralization?

Xiaoxi Zhang, Hangyu Lei, Yujie Chong, Jiawei Hu, Wenrong Che, Man Hu, Shuoyu Xu, Pan Zhang, Lingling Zhang, Jiyuan Xu and Zengwen Liu
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Xiaoxi Zhang: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube (Yan’an University), College of Life Sciences, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
Hangyu Lei: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube (Yan’an University), College of Life Sciences, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
Yujie Chong: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube (Yan’an University), College of Life Sciences, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
Jiawei Hu: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube (Yan’an University), College of Life Sciences, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
Wenrong Che: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube (Yan’an University), College of Life Sciences, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
Man Hu: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube (Yan’an University), College of Life Sciences, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
Shuoyu Xu: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube (Yan’an University), College of Life Sciences, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
Pan Zhang: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube (Yan’an University), College of Life Sciences, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
Lingling Zhang: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube (Yan’an University), College of Life Sciences, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
Jiyuan Xu: Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Zengwen Liu: College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 18, 1-14

Abstract: In a silvi-medicinal system, the plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) released from medicinal herbs could affect tree litter decomposition and nutrient release. However, the specific effects of PSMs on arboreous litter decomposition are still not well understood. In this study, the extracts of nine types of medicinal herbs were used to treat Pinus armandii Franch. and Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. litter during a simulated half-year decomposition. The effects of the extracts on the decomposition and the N and P release of the conifer litter were investigated. The results indicated that most of the medicinal herb extracts significantly inhibited the late decomposition of P. armandii litter, whereas only two of them accelerated the entire decomposition process. Only a few significantly affected the decomposition of the L. gmelinii litter. Four of the nine types of extract significantly inhibited the N and P release of the P. armandii litter, while 3/9 and 6/9 inhibited the N and P release of the L. gmelinii litter, respectively. The accelerating effects of the extracts on the cellulase activity and the inhibitory effects on the polyphenol oxidase activity might be responsible for the early acceleration and late inhibition of litter decomposition, while the effects of the extracts on the activities of protease and phosphatase might not be the main reason for the inhibitory or accelerating effects on the N and P release. In general, the inhibitory effects of medicinal herbs on the nutrient cycling of ecosystems should be taken into consideration when building silvi-medicinal systems, especially in P. armandii forests.

Keywords: silvi-medicinal system; litter decomposition; conifer forests; plant secondary metabolites (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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