Field litter decomposition rate estimation: Does incubation starting time matter?

Litter decomposition rate is one of the most important variables regulating ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycling. However, the current estimation - method fitting an exponential decay curve to data describing litter mass remaining - may produce incorrect results if the litter decomposition rate varies depending on the time of year the field incubation trial is started. Using a computer simulation method, we demonstrated that the trajectory of litter mass remaining varied with different starting times. Although the final litter mass remaining after two years was similar for each starting time, the estimated litter decomposition rate varied significantly in the simulations. Our analyses raised cautions in the estimation and interpretation of field measured litter decomposition rate.