Litter quantity and decomposition

The global terrestrial heterotrophic respiration is estimated at about 60 Gt C yr-1 (Schlesinger, 1991). Plant litter produced during senescence processes and plant residues left on site after harvest operations are the primary substrate for heterotrophic respiration in plant-soil ecosystems. They constitute both of aboveground and belowground plant parts. Substrate quality, together with the physico-chemical environment and the decomposer community, is one of the three interacting factors regulating decomposition rates (Swift et al., 1979). Thus, the quantity and quality of plant litter are key factors controlling carbon (C) loss in the plant-soil ecosystem.