DOI: 10.5061/dryad.j9kd51cnk
title: Accumulation of sodium and manganese during litter decomposition of Qinghai spruce (Picea crassifolia) forest in China

description: Litter decomposition is a key ecological process as a control of nutrient
 cycling in forest ecosystems. Forest litter is an important carrier of
 element cycles in forest ecosystems. The biogeochemical cycle of elements
 is of great significance to plant communities and ecosystem functions. At
 present, most of the studies on the litter's major elements only
 focus on C, N, and P, but there are few studies on the biogeochemical
 cycle of sodium (Na) and manganese (Mn) of forest litter. In this study,
 we investigated the concentrations and fluxes of Na and Mn in needle
 litter of Qinghai spruce over a 12–month period. Meanwhile, we measured
 the release and accumulation dynamics of litter Na and Mn during litter
 decomposition at different canopy coverage and elevations over 3.9 years.
 The results showed that the annual Na and Mn concentrations were 312.34
 and 621.19 mg kg-1, and the annual fluxes of Na and Mn were 236.67 and
 343.16 g ha-1 in needle litter, respectively. After 3.9 years of litter
 decomposition, Na released 15.6%, and Mn accumulated 93.4% compared to the
 initial concentration. The concentration of Na and Mn in needle litter
 both accumulated fastest at low canopy coverage. The concentrations of Na
 and Mn were different at various elevations, but there was no obvious
 regularity. These results illustrated the seasonal characteristics of
 litter element return and nutrient cycling during litter decomposition in
 typical coniferous forests in the Qilian Mountains and could provide basic
 data and a theoretical basis for ecological protection in the Qilian
 Mountains.
description: # Accumulation of sodium and manganese during litter decomposition of
 Qinghai spruce (*Picea crassifolia*) forest in China
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.j9kd51cnk](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.j9kd51cnk) ## Description of the data and file structure The dataset mainly consists of the original mapping data of the six figures in the manuscript, which have been organized in an Excel file according to the serial numbers of the figures, mainly including Fig. 1 Variation of Na and Mn concentrations in needle litter at different elevations; Fig. 2 Variation of Na and Mn fluxes in needle litter at various elevations; Fig. 3 Variations of Na and Mn concentrations among different canopy coverage during litter decomposition; Fig. 4 Variations of Na and Mn concentrations among different elevations during litter decomposition; Fig. 5 Release rates of Na and Mn in decomposing litter; Fig. 6 The correlation between litter mass loss and element release rate during litter decomposition. ### Files and variables #### File: Data.xlsx **Description:**  ##### Variables * Fig. 1: Elevation (m), Date (yyyy/m/d), Na (mg/kg), Mn (mg/kg).  * Fig. 2: Elevation (m), Date (yyyy/m/d), Na (g/ha), Mn (g/ha). n/a represents not available. * Fig. 3: Canopy coverage (%), Decomposition time (d), Na (mg/kg), Mn (mg/kg). Note: The high, middle, and low canopy coverage is 80%, 73%, and 67%, respectively. * Fig. 4: Decomposition time (d), Elevation (m), Na (mg/kg), Mn (mg/kg). Note: n/a represents not available. * Fig. 5: Decomposition time (d), Canopy coverage (%) / Elevation (m), Na release rate (%), Mn release rate (%). Note: n/a represents not available. The high, middle, and low canopy coverage is 80%, 73%, and 67%, respectively. * Fig. 6: Decomposition time (d), litter mass loss (%), Na release rate (%), Mn release rate (%).  ## Code/software software: origin 2022 ## Access information NA