Journal Article

Tree effects on litter mass loss at different soil depths in a young temperate alley cropping system revealed with tea bag method

Choma, Caroline, Zeller, Bernhard, Waterlot, Christophe, Andrianarisoa, Kasaina Sitraka, Siah, Ali, O’Connor, Claire

2025

Overview

Background and Aims Litter decomposition is poorly investigated in young temperate alley cropping (AC) systems but may be an integrative indicator to explore the early effect of trees on overall biological activity throughout soil profile. We evaluated the effect of four-year-old trees on recalcitrant-rooibos and labile-green tea mass loss at different soil depths at the Ramecourt AC experimental site. Methods In May 2021, tea bags were inserted within aluminum ingrowth bags and incubated at three depths 1.5 m from a reference tree for 6 months. The tea mass loss variability was analyzed according to factors: type of tea, type of system (AC, sole-crop control or CC and forest plantation control or FC), soil incubation depth, tree species and was correlated with fine roots and soil parameters. Results At 30 cm depth, the mass loss was significantly lower for rooibos than green tea regardless of the type of system, whereas at 50 cm and 100 cm depth, this difference was observed only in AC and FC. We observed a lower rooibos mass loss in AC than in CC at 100 cm depth. At 30 cm depth, soil mineral nitrogen content explained 23% of the rooibos tea mass loss variability whereas, soil organic matter content and fine root biomass within tea bags accounted for 50% of green tea mass loss variability. Conclusion We highlighted the ability of AC to slow recalcitrant litter decomposition in depth, however further works are needed to elucidate the processes leading to retarded decomposition.

• Publisher: Springer International Publishing,Springer Nature B.V,Springer Verlag
• Subject: Agricultural sciences / Agriculture / Agronomy / Alley cropping / Aluminum / Aspalathus linearis / bioactive properties / Biological activity / biomass / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Cropping systems / Crops / Decomposition / Ecology / fine roots / forest plantations / Green tea / Life Sciences / Litter / nitrogen content / Organic matter / Plant Physiology / Plant Sciences / Plant species / Research Article / Soil analysis / Soil depth / soil minerals / Soil organic matter / Soil profiles / Soil properties / Soil Science & Conservation / Soil study / Streets / Tea / Tea bags / Trees