Examining Decomposition and Nitrogen Mineralization in Five Common Urban Habitat Types across Southern California to Inform Sustainable Landscaping

Urban landscaping conversions can alter decomposition processes and soil respiration, making it difficult to forecast regional CO2 emissions. Here we explore rates of initial mass loss net nitrogen (N) mineralization in natural four common urban land covers (waterwise, waterwise with mulch, shrub, lawn) from sites across seven colleges southern California. We found that N were faster for high-N leaf substrates, habitats exhibited slower than managed landcovers, especially lawns areas added mulch. These results consistent college campuses, suggesting our findings are robust predict While mechanisms driving differences among the cool-wet spring identify, elevated highlights conversion landscapes enhances greenhouse gas perceived as sustainable, mulch mean while these transformations may reduce water inputs, they increase carbon (C) flux. Mimicking by reducing nutrient (mulch) inputs planting drought-tolerant native vegetation recalcitrant litter slow C