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Acta Agraria Debreceniensis

No. 1 (2023)
Articles

Examination of the decomposition of willow (Salix sp.), poplar (Populus sp.), reed (Phragmites australis) and mixed leaf litter with litterbag technique

Published:
2023-06-05
DOI Linkhttps://doi.org/10.34101/actaagrar/1/12089
Authors
Ariel Tóth,
Szabina Simon,
Brigitta Simon-Gáspár
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Keywords
leaf litter decomposition litterbag technique willow poplar reed
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Selected Style: APA
Tóth, A., Simon, S., & Simon-Gáspár, B. (2023). Examination of the decomposition of willow (Salix sp.), poplar (Populus sp.), reed (Phragmites australis) and mixed leaf litter with litterbag technique. Acta Agraria Debreceniensis, 1, 111-115. https://doi.org/10.34101/actaagrar/1/12089
Received 2022-12-08
Accepted 2023-04-17
Published 2023-06-05
Abstract

Leaf litter decomposition is one of the main ecological material cycle processes in waterfront areas. In this microcosm experiment, the rate of decomposition of the most frequently occurring dominant waterside plants were examined in the summer months of 2022 in a class “A” evaporation pan, using litterbag technique. The study provides information about the decomposition dynamics of willow (Salix sp.), poplar (Populus sp.), reed (Phragmites australis) and different leaf litter mixture combinations. Dry mass, exponential decay coefficient and the chemical parameters of the water (pH, conductivity, NH4+, PO43-, SO42-) were determined during the 84 days long experimental period. The weight loss curves showed negative exponential pattern in every case. On average, the different samples lost ~ 57% of their initial dry mass during the experimental period. The largest mass loss was measured in case of poplar (67.2%), while reed leaves had the smallest mass loss (47.25%). Based on the results, it cannot be proven, that mixed leaf litter accelerates the rate of decomposition.

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