@Article{phyton.2026.084022,
AUTHOR = {Xianyan Wang, Yan Guo, Nan Yang, Shengnan Ouyang, Honglang Duan, Jie Wang, Qiqiang Guo, Liehua Tie, Guijie Ding},
TITLE = {Drought Effects on Pine Litter Decomposition and Metal Nutrient Release Are Moderated by Mixed Understory Vegetation Litter},
JOURNAL = {Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany},
VOLUME = {},
YEAR = {},
NUMBER = {},
PAGES = {{pages}},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/phyton/online/detail/27679},
ISSN = {1851-5657},
ABSTRACT = {Understory vegetation-mediated forest litter decomposition and nutrient release processes are critical for biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem sustainability. Drought-dominated global change significantly affects relevant processes, but its impact on metal element release from mixed litters of overstory trees and understory vegetation remains unclear. Here, we conducted an 18-month <i>in situ</i> decomposition experiment in a <i>Pinus massoniana</i>–<i>Camellia oleifera</i> mixed forest under three precipitation regimes: control (CK), low-intensity reduction (R30), and high-intensity reduction (R60). Both R30 and R60 treatments significantly inhibited <i>P. massoniana</i> litter mass loss by 4.85% and 6.22%, respectively. Only R60 treatment significantly reduced the mass loss in <i>C. oleifera</i> and mixed litters. The release of K and Mg from <i>P. massoniana</i> litter was suppressed by R30 and R60 treatments, and only R60 treatment significantly impeded K and Mg release from the mixed litter. Furthermore, R60 treatment significantly reduced Ca release from <i>C. oleifera</i> litter and Mn release from both single-species litters. These results suggest that mixed understory litter may partially alleviate the inhibitory effects of moderate drought on litter decomposition and metal nutrient release. These findings provide new insights for understanding understory vegetation-mediated forest litter decomposition processes under ongoing climate change.},
DOI = {10.32604/phyton.2026.084022}
}