Litter decomposition of emergent macrophytes in a floodplain marsh of the Lower Paraná River.

VILLAR C,; DE CABO L,; VAITHIYANATHAN P,; BONETTO, C.

AQUATIC BOTANY

Elsevier

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2001 vol. 70 p. 105 - 116

0304-3770

Abstract The role of litter decomposition on organic matter accumulation and nutrient cycling was studied in a floodplain marsh of the Lower Paraná River by means of in situ litterbag experiments. The effect of waterborne nutrients on decomposition rates was studied through a laboratory litterbag experiment. Litter decomposition was rather slow, remaining roughly 40-50% of the initial mass after two years incubation. Similar decomposition rates were observed in laboratory and field experiments. Water fertilization did not significantly affect decomposition rates. Since organic matter production is faster than decomposition a net accumulation takes place in the upper layers of the marsh soil. N and P litter concentration increased during the decompositon experiment. Floodplain marshes represent effective sinks of nutrients through litter accumulation.