Rainfall manipulation effects on litter decomposition and the microbial biomass of the forest floor

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creativework.keywordsDecomposition; Roofing; Microbial biomass; Soil respiration; Rainfall; Litter bag
dc.contributor.authorSalamanca, Eric F.
dc.contributor.authorKaneko, Nobuhiro
dc.contributor.authorKatagiri, Shigeo
dc.date.accessioned2026-08-19T15:14:19Z
dc.date.available2026-08-19T15:14:19Z
dc.date.issued2003
dc.descriptionFull text
dc.description.abstractSimple structures aimed at regulating the amount of rain water dropping into the forest floor were installed to determine the impact of rainfall on leaf litter mass loss, respiration rates, microbial biomass C (Cmic) and metabolic quotient (qCO2). The rainfall manipulation treatments were (I) fully covered (100% reduction); (II) partially covered (50% reduction) and (III) control (fully exposed). Using the litterbag technique, the mass losses of covered Quercus serrata, Quercus acutissima, Acer rufinerve and Pinus densiflora leaf litter were reduced (P < 0.01) by 19–26% compared to fully exposed litter. A positive linear relationship (r = 0.90; P < 0.0001) between litter Cmic and mass loss was noted across all litter types and covering regimes. The mass losses in fully exposed litter were attributed to the leaching effect of rainfall coupled with the synergistic actions of microbes and soil fauna, as suggested by their respiration and microbial biomass. In the covered litter, Cmic was generally reduced (P < 0.01) while fully and partially exposed litter were comparable (P > 0.05). On the other hand, respiration rates and qCO2 were variable and showed no consistent treatment effect except for respiration rates at 3 months. Similarly, soil respiration rates and Cmic were not consistently affected by cover treatments. Evidently, the zero-rainfall condition negatively affected some biological processes in the litter layer but sporadically affected soil processes. The absence of rainfall, even if the soil moisture content was maintained, could affect organic matter turnover in the forest floor.
dc.identifier.citationSalamanca, E. F., Kaneko, N., & Katagiri, S. (2003). Rainfall manipulation effects on litter decomposition and the microbial biomass of the forest floor. Applied Soil Ecology, 22(3), 271–281. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0929-1393(02)00153-1
dc.identifier.issn09291393
dc.identifier.urihttps://lakasa.dmmmsu.edu.ph/handle/123456789/2390
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherApplied Soil Ecology
dc.relation.urihttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/222041318_Rainfall_manipulation_effects_on_litter_decomposition_and_the_microbial_biomass_of_the_forest_floor
dc.sdgSDG 15
dc.sdgSDG 13
dc.subjectForest Litter Decomposition
dc.subjectMicrobial Biomass
dc.subjectRainfall Manipulation
dc.subjectSoil Respiration
dc.subjectForest Floor Ecosystem
dc.subjectBiogeochemical Cycles
dc.subject.ddcForest ecology
dc.subject.ddcSoil chemistry (Biogeochemistry)
dc.subject.ddcSoil biochemistry and soil organic matter
dc.subject.lcshForest litter -- Decomposition
dc.subject.lcshForest soils -- Microbiology
dc.subject.lcshSoil microbial biomass
dc.subject.lcshRain and rainfall -- Environmental aspects
dc.subject.lcshForest ecology
dc.titleRainfall manipulation effects on litter decomposition and the microbial biomass of the forest floor
dc.typeArticle
oaire.citation.endPage281
oaire.citation.issue3
oaire.citation.startPage271
oaire.citation.volume22
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