title: [Water-holding characteristics and accumulation amount of the litters under main forest types in Xinglong Mountain of Gansu, Northwest China].
abstract: By the methods of field survey and laboratory soaking extraction, an investigation was conducted on the accumulation amount, water-holding capacity, water-holding rate, and water-absorption rate of the litters under six main forests (Picea wilsonii forest, P. wilsonii - Betula platyphlla forest, Populus davidiana - B. platyphlla forest, Cotonester multiglorus - Rosa xanthina shrubs, Pinus tabulaeformis forest, and Larix principis-rupprechtii forest) in Xinglong Mountain of Gansu. The accumulation amount of the litters under the forests was 13.40-46.32 t hm(-2), and in the order of P. tabulaeformis forest > P. wilsonii - B. platyphlla forest > L. principis-rupprechtii forest > P. wilsonii forest > C. multiglorus-R. xanthina shrubs > P. davidiana - B. platyphlla forest. The litter storage of coniferous forests was greater than that of broadleaved forests, and the storage percentage of semi-decomposed litters was all higher than that of un-decomposed litters. The maximum water-holding rate of the litters was 185.5%-303.6%, being the highest for L. principis-rupprechtii forest and the lowest for P. tabulaeformis forest. The litters' water-holding capacity changed logarithmically with their soaking time. For coniferous forests, un-decomposed litters had a lower water-holding rate than semi-decomposed litters; whereas for broadleaved forests, it was in adverse. The maximum water-holding capacity of the litters varied from 3.94 mm to 8.59 mm, and was in the order of P. tabulaeformis forest > L. principis-rupprechtii forest > P. wilsonii - B. platyphlla forest > P. wilsonii forest > C. multiglorus - R. xanthina shrubs > P. davidiana - B. platyphlla forest. The litters' water-holding capacity also changed logarithmically with immersing time, and the half-decomposed litters had a larger water-holding capacity than un-decomposed litters. The water-absorption rate of the litters presented a power function with immersing time. Within the first one hour of immersed in water, the water-absorption rate of the litters declined linearly; after the first one hour, the litters' water-absorption rate became smaller, and changed slowly at different immersed stages. Semi-decomposed litters had a higher water-absorption rate than un-decomposed litters. The effective retaining amount (depth) of the litters was in the order of P. wilsonii - B. platyphlla forest (5.97 mm) > P. tabulaeformis forest (5.59 mm) > L. principis-rupprechtii forest (5.46 mm) >P. wilsonii forest (4.30 mm) > C. multiglorus - R. xanthina shrubs (3.03 mm)>P. davidiana - B. platyphlla forest (2.13 mm).
authors.affiliation: Gansu Forestry Science and Technology Research Academy, Lanzhou 730020, China. 1974weiqiang@163.com
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Guang-zhong
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Pei-bin
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Ji-xin
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Chun-shan
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xue
mesh_terms: D029662:Betula / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002681:China; D017753:Ecosystem; D028222:Picea / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism*; D032107:Populus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D014197:Trees / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D014867:Water