Abstract
Leaf nitrogen nutrition of hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher) was investigated at three positions along a slope over a period of 3 years. At each slope position, nitrogen properties were compared in patch-cut plots (0.06–0.09 ha) and uncut control plots (0.04 ha). Nitrogen cycling at the lower slope was characterized by a higher rate of soil nitrogen mineralization, and higher nitrogen concentration in fresh leaves and leaf-litter. The soil nitrogen mineralization rate and fresh-leaf nitrogen concentration in the patch-cut plots were higher than those in the control plots. However, leaf-litter nitrogen concentration did not differ between the patch-cut and control plots. The results suggest that slope position strongly affects leaf nitrogen nutrition of hinoki cypress and soil nitrogen availability. By contrast, patch cutting does not affect leaf-litter nitrogen concentration. These findings indicated that hinoki cypress would not enhance forest nitrogen cycling through changes in leaf-litter nitrogen concentration after patch cutting.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Carlyle JC (1998) Relationships between nitrogen uptake, leaf area, water status and growth in an 11-year-old Pinus radiata plantation in response to thinning, thinning residue, and nitrogen fertiliser. For Ecol Manage 108:41–55
Enoki T, Kawaguchi H (1999) Nitrogen resorption from needles of Pinus thunbergii Parl. growing along a topographic gradient of soil nutrient availability. Ecol Res 14:1–8
Enoki T, Kawaguchi H, Iwatsubo G (1997) Nutrient-uptake and nutrient-use efficiency of Pinus thunbergii Parl. along a topographical gradient of soil nutrient availability. Ecol Res 12:191–199
Forest Soil Division (1976) Classification of forest soil in Japan (1975). Bull Gov For Exp Sta 280:1–28 (in Japanese with English summary)
Garten CT, Huston MA, Thoms CA (1994) Topographic variation of soil nitrogen dynamics at Walker Branch watershed, Tennessee. For Sci 40:497–512
Inagaki Y, Kuramoto S, Torii A, Shinomiya Y, Fukata H (2008) Effects of thinning on leaf-fall and leaf-litter nitrogen concentration in hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher) plantation stands in Japan. For Ecol Manage 255:1859–1867
Keeney DR, Nelson DW (1982) Nitrogen—inorganic forms. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of soil analysis. Part 2. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, pp 643–698
Killingbeck KT (1996) Nutrients in senesced leaves: keys to the search for potential resorption and resorption proficiency. Ecology 77:1716–1727
Kiyono Y (1990) Dynamics and control of understories in Chamaecyparis obtusa plantations. Bull For For Prod Res Inst 359:1–122 (in Japanese with English summary)
Makino A, Morimoto J, Shibata S, Osawa N, Nakanishi A (2002) Changes of woody plant diversity after cutting in the small area of the secondary forest in the suburbs. J Jpn Soc Reveget Tech 28:286–289 (in Japanese)
Miura S, Yoshinaga S, Yamada T (2003) Protective effect of floor cover against soil erosion on steep slopes forested with Chamaecyparis obtusa (hinoki) and other species. J For Res 8:27–35
Morimoto J, Yoshida H (2005) Dynamic changes of native Rhododendron colonies in the urban fringe of Kyoto city in Japan: detecting the long-term dynamism for conservation of secondary nature. Landscape Urban Plan 70:195–204
Osawa N, Terai A, Hirata K, Nakanishi A, Makino A, Sakai S, Shibata S (2005) Logging impacts on forest carabid assemblages in Japan. Can J For Res 35:2698–2708
Parsons WF, Knight DH, Miller SL (1994) Root gap dynamics in lodgepole pine forest: nitrogen transformations in gaps of different size. Ecol Appl 4:354–362
Prescott CE, Hope GD, Blevins LL (2003) Effect of gap size on litter decomposition and soil nitrate concentrations in a high-elevation spruce-fir forest. Can J For Res 33:2210–2220
Saito H, Tamai S (1989) Primary production of forest ecosystems. In: Tsutsumi T (ed) Forest ecology. Asakura Shoten, Tokyo, pp 43–95 (in Japanese)
SAS Institute (2000) JMP statistics and graphics guide, version 4. SAS Institute, Cary, NC
Shidei T (1974) Hinoki stands as forests. In: Shidei T, Saito H, Akai T, Kawahara T (eds) Hinoki stands: ecology and natural regeneration. Chikyusha, Tokyo, pp 355–371 (in Japanese)
Tateno R, Takeda H (2003) Forest structure and tree species distribution in relation to topography mediated heterogeneity of soil nitrogen and light at forest floor. Ecol Res 18:559–571
Tsutsumi T, Nishitani Y, Kirimura Y (1983) On the effects of soil fertility on the rate and the nutrient element concentrations of litterfall in a forest. Jpn J Ecol 33:313–322
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to the staff of Kamigamo Experimental Station, Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, for their valuable assistance with this study. This study was partially financially supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (No. 17580127) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Nakanishi, A., Inagaki, Y., Osawa, N. et al. Effects of patch cutting on leaf nitrogen nutrition in hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher) at different elevations along a slope in Japan. J For Res 14, 388–393 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-009-0145-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-009-0145-5