title: Nitrogen release pattern in decomposing leaf litter of banj oak and chir pine seedlings leaf under glass house condition.
abstract: Decomposition rate for leaf litter of banj oak (Quercus leucotrichophora) and chir pine (Pinus roxburghii), seedlings was studied over a period of one year, under glass house condition. The leaf litter of Quercus leucotrichophora decomposed faster as compared to Pinus roxburghii. Initially during 0-62 days of placement, the decomposition rate was slower for leaf litter of both species but after 123 days of placement it was 53% for Quercus leucotrichophora leaf litter and 33% for Pinus roxburghii leaf litter. The Quercus leucotrichophora leaf litter was completely decomposed after 11 months; however, 65% weight loss was recorded in Pinus roxburghii leaf litter after 12 months study. In Quercus leucotrichophora leaf litter the, initial (at the start of decomposition) nitrogen concentration was much higher (1.15%) than that of Pinus roxburghii leaf litter (1.41%), release of N was slower in chir pine leaf litter compared to banj oak leaf litter. Material with higher C/N ratio had longer duration of immobilization and in turn slower release phase. The concentration of N increased approximately linearly as a function of mass loss towards the end of annual cycle. Concentration of N was about 1.2 to 1.9 fold higher than the initial litter for seedlings of both the species.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Social Forestry and Eco-Rehabilitation, Allahabad-211 001, India. samina_usman@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Samina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Usman
mesh_terms: D004780:Environment, Controlled; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D029963:Quercus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen