Tree diversity is considered to influence decomposition either by changing environmental conditions or by non-additive litter mixture effects. Thus, we examined the influence of tree species richness, forest age and environmental factors on single-species decomposition, and tested the hypothesis that high litter species diversity induces predominantly positive non-additive mixture effects on decomposition processes. Decomposition trials using litter bags were performed in subtropical forests in China. Plot-specific decompositions rates of the abundant species Schima superba were related to environmental factors across 27 forest stands differing in age and tree species richness. Effects of litter species diversity on decomposition and N loss was assessed based on 27 plot-specific litter mixtures comprising 7 to 17 species. Decomposition rate of Schima superba leaf litter was mainly affected by stand characteristics and microclimate but not tree diversity. Two thirds of plot-specific litter mixtures showed a positive non-additive mixture effect whose strength was marginally positively influenced by litter species richness. Tree diversity at stand level does not directly influence decomposition of a common litter substrate. However, our results suggest that tree species richness in the litter layer can indirectly promote decomposition and nutrient cycling via positive non-additive mixture effects. 2016-01-08 11:12:08 UTC prep SP05e Effects of environmental conditions and biodiversity on litter decomposition and nutrient cycling in subtropical forests in China Stefan Trogisch, Dr. stefan.trogisch@botanik.uni-halle.de Andy Hector, Prof. andrew.hector@plants.ox.ac.uk Jin-Sheng He, Prof. jshe@pku.edu.cn Michael Scherer-Lorenzen, Prof. michael.scherer@biologie.uni-freiburg.de main false Michael Scherer-Lorenzen, Prof. michael.scherer@biologie.uni-freiburg.de Stefan Trogisch, Dr. stefan.trogisch@botanik.uni-halle.de https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/346/download https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/346/download.csv?separate_category_columns=true main false Michael Scherer-Lorenzen, Prof. michael.scherer@biologie.uni-freiburg.de Stefan Trogisch, Dr. stefan.trogisch@botanik.uni-halle.de https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/345/download https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/345/download.csv?separate_category_columns=true side false Helge Bruelheide, Prof. helge.bruelheide@botanik.uni-halle.de Karin Nadrowski nadrowski@uni-leipzig.de https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/205/download https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/205/download.csv?separate_category_columns=true side false Christian Wirth cwirth@uni-leipzig.de Katherina Pietsch kpietsch@uni-leipzig.de Karin Nadrowski nadrowski@uni-leipzig.de https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/193/download https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/193/download.csv?separate_category_columns=true side false Bernhard Schmid, Prof. bernhard.schmid@ieu.uzh.ch Andreas Kundela kundela@gmx.ch https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/164/download https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/164/download.csv?separate_category_columns=true side false Michael Scherer-Lorenzen, Prof. michael.scherer@biologie.uni-freiburg.de Stefan Trogisch, Dr. stefan.trogisch@botanik.uni-halle.de https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/190/download https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/190/download.csv?separate_category_columns=true side false Michael Scherer-Lorenzen, Prof. michael.scherer@biologie.uni-freiburg.de Stefan Trogisch, Dr. stefan.trogisch@botanik.uni-halle.de https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/191/download https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/191/download.csv?separate_category_columns=true Plant and Soil (accepted); DOI 10.1007/s11104-015-2737-5 2016-01-08 accepted