[Decomposition of litter organic matter and its relations to C, N and P release in secondary conifer and broadleaf mixed forest in Changbai Mountains].
By using litterbag method, the decomposition processes of 9 types of foliar litter in secondary conifer and broadleaf mixed forest in Changbai Mountains were assessed during a period of 34 months. The initial N and P concentrations varied greatly among the litters, and there were significant relationships between litter decomposition constant (k) and initial N concentration and C/N. The percent organic matter remaining had a significant linear correlation with percent C remaining, and a significant polynomial correlation with percent N and P remaining. The percent N and P remaining increased with the decomposition of organic matter in its initial decomposition phase, but decreased gradually in the latter decomposition phase. C/N and C/P declined with the decrease of percent organic matter remaining, and the differences in C/N or C/P among litter types decreased, being approached to 23 and 350, respectively by the end of the study. During organic matter decomposition, N/P did not change greatly, and the differences in N/P between litter types declined when the percent organic matter remaining was below 25%. Our study showed that percent of C, N and P mass remaining can be predicted by percent of organic matter mass remaining.
Li
Xue-Feng
XF
Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China. lisnowmount@163.com
Han
Shi-Jie
SJ
Hu
Yan-Ling
YL
Zhao
Yu-Tao
YT
D000531:Altitude; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D002681:China; D017753:Ecosystem; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D064028:Tracheophyta / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D014197:Trees / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development
D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012987:Soil; D010758:Phosphorus; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen