Authors: Xuefeng Li Shijie Han Yan Zhang
Publish Date: 2007/06/02
Volume: 295, Issue: 1-2, Pages: 151-167
Abstract
Foliar litter decomposition of nine species in broadleafmixed Korean pine plantation forests northeast China was assessed over a 34month field experiment using litterbag method Litter mass loss generally followed a sequential decomposition of watersoluble fraction WSF acidsoluble fraction ASF and acidinsoluble fraction AIF WSF decomposition contributed most of litter mass loss in the first 6 months while ASF accounted for most of litter mass loss thereafter There existed significant autocorrelations among the initial litter quality indices Initial N K Ca AIF AIF/N ASF/N and WSF/N were significantly related to the percent remaining of litter mass N P Ca and Mg in both month 12 and month 34 No litter quality can significantly predict the percent remaining of AIF and K N and P were immobilized by all litters but Ca Mg and K exhibited minor or no immobilization phase N was the most limiting element in this forest based on the results of correlation analysis and nutrient elements release dynamics The relationships between WSF ASF and AIF loss and N or P release rate fitted the polynomial regression The decomposition of WSF and ASF were faster than N and P were mineralized during the study AIF loss rate relative to N and P loss varied greatly among species with highN litter showing slower AIF decomposition rates than N and P The loss rates of WSF and ASF were in proportion to that of K Ca and Mg while AIF decomposed slower than K Ca and Mg This suggested that the decomposition of WSF and ASF caused the net release of K Ca and MgThis study was jointly founded by the State Key Basic Research Project Grant No 2002CB412502 the State Key Basic Research Project No90411021 and the Innovation Study Key Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences No KZCX1SW01 01 grant to Han ShiJie We thank Zhongling Guo Xingbo Zheng Cunnan Fan Liping Zheng Yuandan Ma Lisha Li and Mrs Li for help in collecting processing and analyzing samples The authors also thank two anonymous reviewers for improving the quality of this paper The staff of Lushuihe forestry bureau provided the climate data and relevant forest inventory information
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