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Title： Home-field advantage of litter decomposition differs among leaves, absorptive roots, and transport roots
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Corresponding Author： Xiaoxiang Zhao, Qiuxiang Tian, Anders Michelsen, Qiaoling Lin, Xudong Yuan, Long Chen, Mengzhen Lu, Qinghu Jiang, Rudong Zhao, Feng Liu*
Pubyear： 2024
Title of Journal： Plant and Soil
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Background and aimsHome-field advantage (HFA) in litter decomposition occurs widely in terrestrial ecosystems, but it remains unknown that how leaf, absorptive and transport roots differ in their HFA. Here we conducted a 635-day litter transplant (leaves, absorptive roots, and transport roots) decomposition experiment, using three tree species (Cyclobalanopsis multinervis, Fagus lucida, Cryptomeria japonica), in a subtropical forest to explore their differences in HFA effects.ResultsThe mass loss of leaves was higher than that of absorptive and transport roots. The mass loss of fine roots differed among species. Leaves were more prone to exhibit significant HFA compared to absorptive and transport roots, and absorptive roots were more prone to exhibit significant HFA compared to transport roots. The HFA effect was not explained by the initial chemical characteristics of litter except C concentration.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that HFA effect can occur in labile and recalcitrant litters and are generally not regulated by the initial chemical characteristics. Absorptive and transport roots exhibit different HFA patterns, highlighting the need to identify the effects of HFA on root decomposition by functional classification rather than diameter class to gain a better understanding of fine root decomposition.