Effect of Litter Quality on Leaf-Litter Decomposition in the Context of Home-Field Advantage and Non-Additive Effects in Temperate Forests in China

Litter quality is often considered the main driver of rates of decomposition. Litter decomposes faster in its home environment than in any other environment, which is called the home-field advantage (HFA). However, evidence for this phenomenon has not been universal. In addition, litter mixtures of different species can induce a non-additive effect (NAE) on decomposition processes. However, the direction and magnitude of NAE vary and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of litter quality on leaf-litter decomposition in the context of HFA and NAEs in temperate forests in China. Litterbags containing aspen (Populus davidiana), birch (Betula platyphylla), and oak (Quercus liaotungensis) litter were incubated in situ in pure aspen and broadleaved mixed forests in Chinese temperate forests for 360 days. The main results were: