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Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Additions on Deciduous Litter Decomposition¹

ABSTRACT

Urea and concentrated superphosphate were applied to plots in a deciduous forest to examine their effects on decomposition of white oak leaves (Quercus alba L.) in litter bags and the associated populations of decomposer organisms. Urea applications decreased soil invertebrate populations by about 30% and caused a three- to four-fold increase in bacterial populations while increasing decomposition rates by 1 and 3% at the 550 and 1,100 kg/ha N levels, respectively. Superphosphate additions caused bacterial populations to decrease by 30% at the highest addition rate and decreased decomposition by 4 and 6% at the 275 and 550 kg/ha P rates, respectively. Soil acidity changes following fertilizer additions appear to be primarily responsible for observed results although longer-term changes in decomposition may be associated with changes in the nutrient status of the forest floor.

¹ Research supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under contract with the Union Carbide Corporation. Publication no. 1238, Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

² Biologist, Div. of Environ. Planning, TVA, Muscle Shoals, AL 35660 and Assoc. Prof., School of Forestry, Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, respectively. Research conducted while both authors were associated with Environ. Sci. Div., Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Received for publication November 7, 1977. Accepted for publication July 25, 1978.