Breakdown of forest litter in relation to environmental factors

Witkamp, M.; Drift, J. van der

doi:10.1007/bf01379465

Cited by 115 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…In addition, F. sylvatica and Q. petraea ( Figure 3) had a seasonal pattern in their monthly foliar litterfall, which is consistent with the typical pattern of leaf fall in deciduous species (Witkamp and Van der Drift 1961;Verdu 1984) in cold and temperate regions in the northern hemisphere, where peak leaf fall occurs in autumn. However, the species differ in the month of maximum leaf fall, which normally occurs in November in the Q. petraea forests but varies in F. sylvatica forests according to the year.…”

Section: The Basal Area Incrementsupporting

confidence: 75%

Litterfall and growth dynamics relationship with the meteorological variability in three forests in the Montseny natural park

Bou

Caritat

Vilar

2015

Folia Forestalia Polonica

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We assessed the influence of some environmental conditions (temperature and rainfall) on the litterfall and BAI (basal area increment), in three close forests in the Montseny massif (NE part of the Iberian peninsula, Spain). Two of them are composed of deciduous species Fagus sylvatica and Quercus petraea, and the other one is a Mediterranean evergreen species, Quercus ilex. We have collected monthly data about litterfall and radial growth since 2007. For each forest there are tree plots, with litterfall traps and band dendrometers. This data has been related with the meteorological parameters of meteorological station closed to the study area. Our results show that F. sylvatica recorded the biggest drop in annual litterfall (6 Mg·ha ) and that all the values were similar to those observed in other forests and mountains with the same state of maturity. Regarding the litterfall, the investigation found a decline in the leaves fall in deciduous trees in years with hot summers. In addition, these warm summers produce a decline in the F. sylvatica BAI, but not in Q. petraea. Concerning growth, we found that Q. petraea increases the BAI on the study period while F. sylvatica does not. In conclusion, we believe that in the future Q. petraea will be more tolerant to the warm conditions than F. sylvatica, making the former a possible replacement of the second species.

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Section: The Basal Area Incrementsupporting

confidence: 75%

Litterfall and growth dynamics relationship with the meteorological variability in three forests in the Montseny natural park

Bou

Caritat

Vilar

2015

Folia Forestalia Polonica

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“…The rate of weight loss slowed during a second phase of decay which presumably depended on fungal and bacterial attack on structural components of the litter. Temperature affects rates of litter decomposition (Witkamp & Van der Drift 1961, Suberkropp et al 1975, Wiegert & McGinnis 1975, Christian 1984; thus the slowing of the decay rate of litter in the winter and subsequent increase in the spring was expected (Fig. 1).…”

Section: Total Weight Lossmentioning

confidence: 95%

Decomposition in salt marsh ecosystems: phenolic dynamics during decay of litter of Spartina alterniflora

Wilson¹,

Buchsbaum²,

Valiela³

et al. 1986

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

101

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Loss of weight and change in concentration of soluble phenolics, bound phenolics, lignins, and cell wall material were followed over 2 yr of decay in 4 types of litter of Spartina alterniflora. The pattern of weight loss showed rapid leaching during the first month, temperaturedependent decay during the first year, and little further loss during the second year. Soluble phenolics were lost throughout decomposition. Initially some soluble phenolics may become attached to cell walls; absolute increases in bound phenolics were observed in low marsh litters during the first 2 wk of decay. Lignins were lost at the slowest rate from litter material and increased in relative concentration during decay. Intraspecific differences in litter quality were small, and did not alter the pattern of decomposition among the 4 types of litter. Changes in chemical composition of litter during decay, however, were major controls of decay rates during the second and third phases of decomposition. Decreasing weight loss correlated with increasing lignin and nitrogen content. The increase in nitrogen presumably reflected synthesis of refractory nitrogen-enriched complexes. As decay continued, the litter became progressively enriched in recalcitrant lignin and nitrogen-enriched complexes and little further loss of organic matter occurred.

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“…Climatic factors influencing litter decomposition rates include soil temperature [22,36,48,57,96]; and soil moisture [35]. Soil fertility is directly related to the activity of decomposers [15,97].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic matter and nitrogen dynamics in a mature forest of common beech in the Sierra de la Demanda, Spain

Regina¹,

Tarazona²

2001

Ann. For. Sci.

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-Aboveground biomass, litterfall, leaf weight loss due to decomposition, N return and seasonal leaf N dynamics were studied in the Sierra de la Demanda, Spain, a Mediterranean climatic zone. The forest ecosystem considered was a climax beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest. Aboveground biomass was estimated by cutting and weighing seven trees from a beech stand according to diameter classes, recording the categories of trunk, branches and leaves. The results indicate a total biomass of 132.7 Mg ha -1 . The litterfall was 4 682 kg ha -1 yr -1 , although variations from year to year were observed, mostly due to water stress in summer. Greater K (Jenny's constant) and K o (Olson's constant) values were obtained for total litter than for leaves alone. It is possible that the mean soil humidity might not be a limiting factor in the decomposition process and that this effect would be due to the distribution of rainfall rather than to the total amount of precipitation together with elevated temperature and airing of the holorganic soil horizon. The leaf N contents of beeches growing in the Sierra de la Demanda were studied, relating the contents to other structural stand characteristics. For this, N was analysed in shed leaves, in leaf biomass and in leaves decomposing on a test plot in the "Tres Aguas" beech forest. Leaf nitrogen contents were measured over a vegetative cycle in the above beech forest. Finally, leaf nitrogen contents were studied in thirty beech stands in the Sierra de la Demanda located at different altitudes. Annual nitrogen accumulation in leaf biomass was 79.4 kg ha -1 yr -1 , of which 22.9 kg ha -1 yr -1 were returned to the soil substrate through shedding and 2.1 kg ha -1 yr -1 were actually incorporated into the soil. Nitrogen cannot be a limiting factor for the development of the beech stands studied because all of them surpassed the leaf deficiency threshold. Only other factors such as soil texture and structure or silvicultural treatment have a decisive effect on the production of the stand studied. The correlations for leaf nitrogen contents and the structural stand characteristics explored revealed that leaf nitrogen was only slightly correlated with the mean height of the trees at the plot. aboveground biomass / litterfall / weight loss / nitrogen / forest ecosystem Résumé -Dynamique de la matière organique et de l'azote dans une hêtraie de la Sierra de la Demanda (Espagne). La biomasse aérienne, la retombée de litière, la perte de poids de feuilles en décomposition, le retour et la dynamique saisonnière de l'azote des feuilles, ont été estimés dans une hêtraie (Fagus sylvatica L.) de la Sierra de la Demanda, (Espagne). La biomasse a été estimée par coupe et pesée de sept arbres selon la distribution des diamètres. Les poids des troncs, branches et feuilles ont été mesurés. Les résultats indiquent une biomasse totale de 132,27 Mg ha -1 . La chute de litière est de 4 682 kg ha -1 an -1 , cependant on a observé des variations inter-annuelles, principalement dues au stress hydrique esti...

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Breakdown of forest litter in relation to environmental factors

Cited by 115 publications

References 6 publications

Litterfall and growth dynamics relationship with the meteorological variability in three forests in the Montseny natural park

Litterfall and growth dynamics relationship with the meteorological variability in three forests in the Montseny natural park

Decomposition in salt marsh ecosystems: phenolic dynamics during decay of litter of Spartina alterniflora

Organic matter and nitrogen dynamics in a mature forest of common beech in the Sierra de la Demanda, Spain

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