Decomposition of aboveground biomass of a herbaceous wetland stand

The master?s thesis is part of the project GA ČR č. P504/11/1151- Role of plants in the greenhouse gas budget of a sedge fen. This thesis deals with the decomposition of aboveground vegetation in a herbaceous wetland. The decomposition rate was established on the flooded part of the Wet Meadows near Třeboň. The rate of the decomposition processes was evaluated using the litter-bag method. Mesh bags filled with dry plant matter were located in the vicinity of the automatic meteorological station at four randomly selected sites. Values of the decomposition rate were assessed in two experiments. In the first experiment the litter bags were fixed in April 2009. The litter bags were fixed in the vertical position and they had one size. Values of the decomposition rate were assessed for 6 sampling dates and the total exposure time was 2,5 years. The decrease of the total dry mass was 18,37 % in the first year and 13,05 % in the second year. The value of LDR was 0,7227 in the first year and 0,4740 in the second year. In the 2nd experiment the litter bags were fixed in November 2010. The litter bags were fixed in the vertical and horizontal position, respectively, and they were of two sizes (small, big). Values of the decomposition rate were assessed for 2 sampling dates and the total exposure time was one year. The total annual value of LDR was 0,5212 for the vertical bags and 1,0676 for horizontal bags