Abstract
Microlitterfall, ground litter and large wood litterfall were quantified in differently managed forest ecosystems of Uttara Kannada district (lat. 13°55′ to 15°31′N; long. 74°9′ to 75°10′E) with an annual rainfall of 2500 mm largely restricted to 5 months from June–October. Total microlitter produced ranged from 5–10 t/ha/year, ground litter produced ranged from 12–21 t/ha/year and largewood litterfall values ranged from 0·15–1·24 t/ha/year. In all the forest sites leaflitter was found to be major component which constituted 65–92% of the total microlitterfall and 75–94% of the total groundlitter produced. There appeared to be little seasonality in the total microlitterfall in the forest sites with a greater diversity of species, but the seasonal variation was distinct in monoculture and few species dominated vegetation types. Microlitterfall and ground litter production were highest in the dry season and they were negatively correlated with mean monthly rainfall.
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Bhat, D.M. Litter production and seasonality in tropical moist forest ecosystems of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 100, 139–152 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03053438
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03053438