Why is decomposition important to the environment

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Afr J Plant Sci. Environmental factors and traits that drive plant litter decomposition do not determine home-field advantage effects. Funct Ecol. Vitousek P. Nutrient cycling and nutrient use efficiency. Am Nat. Vitousek P, Sanford RL. Nutrient cycling in tropical forest.

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Ecol Complexity. Download references. The Ethiopian Environment and Forest Research Institute cover the salary of the author, while I prepared this review paper.

You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar. The author gathered, organized, and processed the information and wrote the manuscript. The author read and approved the final manuscript. Correspondence to Mekonnen Giweta.

This research was performed in accordance with the laws, guidelines, and ethical standards of Ethiopia where the review was performed. Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Reprints and Permissions. Giweta, M. Role of litter production and its decomposition, and factors affecting the processes in a tropical forest ecosystem: a review. Download citation.

Received : 17 July Accepted : 19 January Published : 07 May Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:. Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article. Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative. Skip to main content. Search all BMC articles Search. Download PDF. Review Open Access Published: 07 May Role of litter production and its decomposition, and factors affecting the processes in a tropical forest ecosystem: a review Mekonnen Giweta 1 Journal of Ecology and Environment volume 44 , Article number: 11 Cite this article Accesses 8 Citations Metrics details.

Abstract In the forest ecosystems, litterfall is an important component of the nutrient cycle that regulates the accumulation of soil organic matter SOM , the input and output of the nutrients, nutrient replenishment, biodiversity conservation, and other ecosystem functions.

Background Among the various components of the plant-soil system, nutrient cycling is directly linked to productivity in terrestrial ecosystems Szanser et al.

Importance of litter production and its decomposition processes in the functioning of forest ecosystem In many traditional agricultural practices, the practical knowledge of the effects of litter is well known. Table 1 Direct and indirect effect of litter production and decomposition on the physical and chemical environment Full size table. Full size image. Table 2 Summary of the major biotic and abiotic factors affecting in situ litter production Full size table. Table 3 Summary of factors affecting the pattern of litter accumulation Full size table.

Factors affecting the rate of litter decomposition in forest ecosystems There are three major processes through which decomposition occurs Perez-Harguindeguy et al. Litter quality The physical quality and chemical composition of leaves vary tremendously among plant species Perez-Harguindeguy et al. Let us know if there is a problem with our content.

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Ok Cookie options. E-mail newsletter. It appears that you are currently using Ad Blocking software. Temperature sensitivity of soil carbon decomposition and feedbacks to climate change. Melillo J. Aber, and J. Nitrogen and lignin control of hardwood leaf litter decomposition dynamics. Norby R. Cotrufo, P. Ineson, E. Elevated CO 2 , litter chemistry, and decomposition: a synthesis. Pendall E. Bridgham, P. Hanson, B. Hungate, D.

Kicklighter, D. Decomposers help by releasing all this built up energy. Related questions What is decomposition? How does fungi affect the ecosystem? How does fungi affect plants? What is saprophytic nutrition? What is the primary role of fungi in most ecosystems? Question f46c8. The root-like rhizoids of fungi penetrate a source of food, secrete hydrolytic enzymes, and What does the plant give the fungus that surrounds its roots?

How do plants and fungi benefit from each other through a mycorrhiza?