CONTROLS ON THE DECOMPOSITION OF ORGANIC MATTER IN SUBARCTIC SPRUCE-LICHEN WOODLAND SOILS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In subarctic woodland soils near Schefferville, Quebec [Canada], many nutrients are bound up in slowly decomposing soil organic matter. Three organic horizon samples from 2 soils (L and H horizons from a mature woodland and a combined L and H from a recently burned site) were incubated under laboratory conditions, and CO2 evolution was measured. The major factor inhibiting decomposition is the low soil temperatures (Q10 values of 2.0-2.3), with acidity, low N content, lack of readily available C, and low mesofaunal populations of secondary importance. Microorganisms, lichen extracts, water content and other macronutrients (Ca, Mg, P, K) were relatively unimportant factors in controlling the rate of decomposition.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: