Plant litter decomposition in a semi-arid rangeland of Argentina: species and defoliation effects
- Ambrosino, Mariela Lis
- Busso, Carlos Alberto
- Torres, Yanina Alejandra
- Ithurrart, Leticia Soledad
- Martinez, Juan Manuel
- Minoldo, Gabriela Verónica
- Cardillo, Daniela Solange
- Palomo, Iris Rosana
DOIAbstract
Plant litter decomposition is critical for terrestrial ecosystem productivity. Poa ligularis Nees ex Steud and Nassella tenuis (Phil.) Barkworth are native, desirable perennial grasses in central Argentina’s rangelands. Amelichloa ambigua (Speg.) Arriaga & Barkworth is only consumed when a better forage is unavailable. Litter traps were used to collect aboveground litter during two years. In March 2012, six bags, each one containing either leaf blade (three bags, one per species) or root litter (three bags, one per species) of the three species were located below the canopy of each replicate plant of the studied species (hereafter referred to as ‘location’). Blade litter bags were located on the soil surface, and root litter bags buried at ...
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