[Litter decomposition of dominant plant species in successional stages in mid-subtropical zone].
The litters of seven tree species representing the dominant plant species in three main successional stages in subtropical China, i.e., Pinus massoniana in early successional forests, Schima superba and Cinnamanun camphora in transitional forests, and Castanopsis eyeri, Cyclobalanopsis gracilis, Cyclobalanopsis glauca, and Michelia chapensis in late successional forests, were collected, and their decomposition rates were measured with litterbags. The results showed that M. chapensls and C. gracilis had the highest litter decomposition rate (k = 1.12 and 0.89, respectively), followed by C. camphora and S. superba (k = 0.61 and 0.55, respectively), and P. massoniana (k = 0.51), indicating that there was a trend of litter decomposition rate being increased with succession stage. Litter decomposition rate had significant correlations with the litter' s initial P, N, and lignin contents, lignin/N ratio (P < 0.01), and C/N ratio (P < 0.05), suggesting that the initial P, N, and lignin contents and lignin/N ratio of leaf litter could be the good indictors of litter decomposition rate.
Song
Xin-zhang
XZ
International Research Center of Spatial Ecology and Ecosystem Ecology, Zhejiang Forestry Univercity, Lin 'an 311300, Zhejiang, China. xzsong@126.com
Ma
Jiang Hong
JH
Yu
Shu-quan
SQ
Ma
Yuan-dan
YD
Zhou
Guo-mo
GM
Dou
Rong-peng
RP
Guo
Pei-pei
PP
D002681:China; D027423:Cinnamomum camphora / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D017753:Ecosystem; D029562:Magnoliaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D028223:Pinus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D014197:Trees / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D014329:Tropical Climate