The effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on extracellular enzyme activities of litter and soil among different-aged stands of larch

Abstract

AimsNitrogen (N) addition could affect the rate of forest litter and soil organic matter decomposition by regulating extracellular enzyme activity (EEA). The impact of N addition on EEA may differ across different age stands with different organic matter quality. We were interested in whether the impact of N addition on EEA in litter and mineral soil during the growing season was dependent on stand age of a larch plantation in North China.