Abstract
Experimental litter decomposition of Quercus rotundifolia leaves in an evergreen oak forest of the semiarid area of the Duero Basin has been carried out. The loss of weight of the decomposing oak leaves was 62% after 24 months. In general, it is physical factors (mainly precipitation) which limit the decomposition of the evergreen oak leaves. Different patterns of bioelement losses were observed, increasing the relative content of N and P, and decreasing the amounts of Mg, K and Na in the decomposing leaves.
Keywords
- Leaf decomposition
- Forest ecosystems
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© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
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Hernández, I., Gallardo, J.F., Regina, I.S., Quilchano, C. (1992). Decomposition rate of Quercus rotundifolia leaves in an evergreen oak forest of the Duero Basin (Province of Zamora, Spain). In: Romane, F., Terradas, J. (eds) Quercus ilex L. ecosystems: function, dynamics and management. Advances in vegetation science, vol 13. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2836-2_27
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2836-2_27
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4162-3
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