Abstract
The nitrogen dynamics in decomposing leaf litter, incubated on different forest sites were observed for a two year period. There existed an inverse relationship between the per cent dry matter remaining and its nitrogen concentration (r=−0·713 to −0·966). Litter, placed at sal, pine-mixed broadleaf and mixed oak forest sites showed larger slopes (showing greater weight loss per unit of nitrogen immobilization) compared to pine and mixed oak-pine forest sites. The magnitude of immobilization of nitrogen was different among species at different forest sites. The decomposition constant (k) for organic matter ranged from −1·29 to −4·61 and for N release −1·05 to 3·91. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences in N concentration due to days, species and species × days interaction (P<0·01).
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Upadhyay, V.P. Pattern of immobilization and release of nitrogen in decomposing leaf litter in Himalayan forests. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 98, 215–226 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03053591
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03053591