# Understory Dwarf Bamboo Modulates Leaf Litter Decomposition via Interception-Induced Litter Redistribution and Space-Dependent Decomposition Dynamics: A Case Study from Jinfo Mountain, China

## TL;DR

Dwarf bamboo in forests affects how leaf litter decomposes and redistributes nutrients, changing the way nutrients are released in different areas.

## Contribution

This study quantifies how understory dwarf bamboo alters litter decomposition and nutrient release patterns in forest ecosystems.

## Key findings

- Dwarf bamboo intercepted over 25% of canopy litterfall, altering spatial distribution and reducing decomposition efficiency.
- Nutrient release patterns varied by element, with potassium release higher in bamboo crown areas and carbon release lower.
- Phosphorus enrichment was slower in bamboo crown areas compared to other habitats.

## Abstract

Understory vegetation, particularly dwarf bamboo, plays a crucial role in regulating forest nutrient cycles by intercepting litter and altering decomposition processes, yet its overall impacts remain understudied and insufficiently quantified. This study employs a combination of field surveys and decomposition bag experiments to investigate how understory dwarf bamboo (Fargesia decurvata) alters the spatial–temporal patterns of leaf litter production and decomposition. We found that the dwarf bamboo intercepted more than 25% of canopy litterfall, altering its spatial distribution and reducing decomposition efficiency in the bamboo crown (BC). Leaf trait-decomposition relationships differed strongly across habitats, being positive for saturated fresh weight (SFW), leaf thickness (LFT), and leaf area (LA) and dry weight (DW) in bamboo habitats but weaker in the bamboo-free habitat (NB). Potassium release was significantly higher in the BC treatment, whereas carbon release showed the opposite trend. In contrast, nitrogen and phosphorus exhibited net enrichment across all treatments, with phosphorus enrichment being slower in BC than in bamboo-covered ground surface (BG) and NB. Our results demonstrate that the understory dwarf bamboo reshapes the spatial distribution of litter and nutrient release dynamics during decomposition, resulting in element-specific nutrient release patterns. These findings provide mechanistic insights into how understory dwarf bamboo mediates nutrient cycling dynamics in forest communities.