Nutrient cycling in mixed- species plant communities may be enhanced in comparison to what might be expected from the component species. In this study, we investigated ( 1) whether the admixing of nitrogen- rich litter from Acacia mearnsii can accelerate the decomposition of Eucalyptus globulus leaf litter and ( 2) whether eucalypt litter originating from mixed stands with acacias decomposes faster than litter from pure eucalypt stands. To address the first question, pure and mixed litter was incubated in the laboratory for 110 days at 25. C in the following proportions: 100% E, 75% E : 25% A,...
