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Litterfall and nutrient dynamics in a montane moist evergreen broad-leaved forest in Ailao Mountains, SW China

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Abstract

Montane moist evergreen broad-leaved forest, dominated byLithocarpus and Castanopsis species,is the most extensive stand of subtropical mountain in Yunnan Province, SWChina. Litter production, standing crop of litter on forest floor and nutrientreturn patterns were studied over nine years (1991–1999) in a stand ofprimary evergreen broad-leaved forest in northern crest of the Ailao MountainRange. There were significant yearly variations in litter production, which ismainly related with the masting year of canopy species, and exceptionalphysicalevents (strong winds and snow) in the natural forest. The mean annual smalllitterfall is 7.12 t ha−1 yr−1ofwhich leaf litter account for 65% of the total litterfall. The seasonality ofsmall litterfall was bia-modal, with the main one in the late dry season(April–May) and a lesser one in early winter (October–November).Decomposition quotient value was relatively low with 0.58 for total smalllitterfall. Mean large-wood (≥ 2.5 cm in diameter) ranged from0.21 to 1.41 t ha−1 yr−1 with amean of 0.52 t ha−1 yr−1.Concentrations of most elements in leaf and twig were slightly greater in wetmonths than dry months, except for C and K. Woody litter had low N and Pconcentrations compared with the leaf and reproductive parts. Nutrient returntothe soil through small litterfall decrease in the orderC>N>Ca>K>Mg>Mn>Al>P>Fe, while nutrient reserve inlitteron the forest floor was in the declining sequenceC>N>Ca>K>Mg>P>Fe>Al>Mn.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Division, Kunming, 650223, P. R. China

    Wenyao Liu & Zaifu Xu

  2. School of Environmental Biology, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, 6845, Australia

    John E.D. Fox

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  1. Wenyao Liu
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Liu, W., Fox, J.E. & Xu, Z. Litterfall and nutrient dynamics in a montane moist evergreen broad-leaved forest in Ailao Mountains, SW China. Plant Ecology 164, 157–170 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021201012950

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