Short life–fast death: decomposition rates of woody plants leaf- and herb-litter

Abstract • Key message Decomposition of forest herb species litter was not always completed in less than a year and faster decomposition tree leaf an oak-hornbeam Western Poland. Litter herbaceous plants is connected with their life strategy functional traits leaves. Context Forest understories are frequently ignored ecological research on decomposition, although they play important role biomass nutrient cycling ecosystems. Aims We hypothesized that the process year, as opposed to litter. The second aim our study determine if affects rate decomposition. Methods performed experiment Czmo? (Western Poland) using bag method decay constants ( k ) for all studied. influence identity, group, leaves other effects assessed. Results significantly dependent group plants, time exposure field, precipitation. found significant correlation between rates Conclusion forests.