4.1 Mixing effect differing among litter mixtures

These three mangrove species are among the widest spread species in subtropical mangrove forests (Yang et al. 2014). Surprisingly, we did not find any study to examine the non-additive effect on litter decomposition of these mangroves. Our study revealed that the non-additive effect occurred in the litter mixtures composed of mangrove species with an antagonistic effect on the litter mixture of A. corniculatum  vs. K. obovata while a synergistic effect on A. corniculatum vs. A. marina. If these results are extended to community scale, it is expecting that the stand composed of A. corniculatum and K. obovata would have slower leaf litter decomposition rate than the stand dominated by A. corniculatum and A. marina
The litters mixed with A. corniculatum and S. alterniflora showed a weak non-additive effect. This is consistent with the result of a study in Georgia, USA, where the litters of S. alterniflora mixed with the other saltmarsh species Juncus roemerianus and Quercus virginiana did not show impact on the decomposition rates of the mixed litters (Treplin et al. 2013).