Downhill movement of litter and its implication for ecological studies in three types of forest in Japan

Tsukamoto, Jiro

doi:10.1007/bf02347132

Cited by 31 publications

(34 citation statements)

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“…Red pine litter consists of slender needles, which are not easily moved (Hattori et al 1992). Sugi litter also does not move easily, because it remains attached to branches on the forest floor for a long time (Tsukamoto 1991). These differing properties of the leaf litter result in different floor litter conditions, and consequently a wide range of FCPs, from 50% to 100% (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Protective effect of floor cover against soil erosion on steep slopes forested with Chamaecyparis obtusa (hinoki) and other species

Miura

Yoshinaga

Yamada

2003

Journal of Forest Research

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We evaluated the protective effects of floor cover against soil erosion in three types of forest located on steep slopes under a humid climate: 22-and 34-year-old Chamaecyparis obtusa (hinoki), 34-year-old Cryptomeria japonica (sugi), and 62-year-old Pinus densiflora (red pine) stands. We measured sediment transport rates (sediment mass passing through one meter of contour width per millimeter of rainfall), using sediment traps, before and after removing floor cover. Raindrop splash erosion was dominant in the experimental stands. Floor cover percentage (FCP) during the preremoval stage varied from 50% to 100% among the four stands, and sediment transport rates ranged from 0.0079 to 1.7 g m Ϫ1 mm Ϫ1 . The rates increased to 1.5-5.6 g m Ϫ1 mm Ϫ1 immediately after removing floor cover, and remained high throughout the experiment. The presence of physical cover near the ground has a crucial effect on sediment transport on forested slopes. The protective effect ratio (the ratio of the sediment transport rate in a control plot to that in the removal plot) in a young hinoki stand, in which the FCP decreased markedly, was 0.3 at most, which is close to the rate for bare ground. The protective effect ratio in the red pine stand was Յ0.003. We concluded that the protective effect of floor cover in undisturbed forests in Japan differs by over two orders of magnitude, based on comparisons with previous studies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Protective effect of floor cover against soil erosion on steep slopes forested with Chamaecyparis obtusa (hinoki) and other species

Miura

Yoshinaga

Yamada

2003

Journal of Forest Research

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“…The significance of cover near the ground for erosion processes on slopes has previously been pointed out in artificial rainfall experiments (Mihara 1951; Kawaguchi and Takiguchi 1957;Murai and Iwasaki 1975). Tsukamoto (1991) found that rain factor had strong influence on Japanese cedar and especially cypress litter movement. Miura et al (2003) reported the importance of forest cover conditions on young cedar plantations; Tsukamoto (1991) pointed out that, in the case of cedar species, litter does not move easily because it remains attached to branches on the forest floor for a long time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Tsukamoto (1991) found that rain factor had strong influence on Japanese cedar and especially cypress litter movement. Miura et al (2003) reported the importance of forest cover conditions on young cedar plantations; Tsukamoto (1991) pointed out that, in the case of cedar species, litter does not move easily because it remains attached to branches on the forest floor for a long time. Also, previous studies showed that more mass mortality of trees especially due to xylem degradation seem to increase in the future in unmanaged conifer forests (Kuroda 2003); however, Sato (2007) reported that thinning prevents insect and disease outbreaks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Also, surface erosion generally does not occur in forests because forest litter and undergrowth form a protective surface cover. However, Japanese cypress plantations have little surface cover, in part, because cypress litter decomposes into small pieces within 2 or 3 months (Sakai and Inoue 1988) and a rapid disappearance of its leaf litter from the soil surface on the slope has long been recognized (Tsukamoto 1991). In addition, some silvicultural practices like the introduction of undergrowth and increase of litter on the forest floor are suggested so far; the effects, however, are not made clear quantitatively and forest management has not been established from the view of soil conservation in Japanese cypress plantations (Hattori et al 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The role of forest stand density in controlling soil erosion: implications to sediment-related disasters in Japan

Razafindrabe

Inoue

et al. 2008

Environ Monit Assess

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The role of forest stand density in controlling soil erosion was investigated in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. The main objective was to compare soil erosion under different forest conditions including forest type, species composition, and stand density as influenced by thinning operations. Relative yield index (Ry) was used as an indicator of stand density to reflect the degree of management operations in the watershed. Eleven treatments were established based on the above forest conditions. Soil loss was collected in each of the 11 treatments after each rainfall event for a period of 1 year. The paper presents summary data on soil loss as affected by forest conditions and rainfall patterns. Findings showed that an appropriate forest management operation, which can be insured by stand density control, is needed to reduce soil loss. The present study plays an important role in clarifying technical processes related to soil erosion, while it helps linking these elements to current Japanese forestry issues and bringing new inputs to reducing sediment-related disasters in Japan.

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“…Under wet conditions (14 samples, M6Ј was the result that the slope inclination was 28°), the erosion rates at points M6, M10, M13, and M14 were large (0.4-0.6 mm). These samples were all composed of decomposed litter, which is easily eroded by rain splash (Tsukamoto 1991). Other samples composed of fresh litter were hardly eroded at all.…”

Section: Rain Splash Erosion Rates Of Each Horizonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental studies on rain splash erosion of forest soils after clearing in Okinawa using an artificial rainfall apparatus

Ohnuki

Shimizu

2004

Journal of Forest Research

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The main island of Okinawa, in southwestern Japan, is characterized by a subtropical climate, coral reefs, and "reddish soils," which contain Acrisols and Cambisols (FAO/UNESCO classifications). Recently, due to soil erosion on hilly lands, the coral reefs have been damaged by an inflow of reddish soil. Forest clearing is thought to one of the factors increasing rain splash erosion rates on hilly lands, because it is believed that clearing disturbs the forest floor and causes the supply of litter to stop. After clearing, A0, A and B horizons will be denuded, one after the other, by rain splash. In this study, we measured rain splash erosion rates of undisturbed samples of A0, A and B horizons using an artificial rainfall apparatus. The results of experiments on rain splash erosion clarified several aspects of the erosion process in a clearing site. First, it was found that the rain splash erosion rates were higher in fresh litter than in decomposed litter, in decomposed litter than in the A horizon, and in the A horizon than in the B horizon. Thus, the erosion rate increases with soil depth. Secondly, surfacegleyed red and yellow soils are mostly vulnerable to rain splash erosion. The erosion rates of these soils are two to three times higher than those of the red soil and the yellow soils. Thirdly, the erosion rates are affected mainly by bulk density and saturated hydraulic conductivity, not by clay ratio and dispersion ratio. Lastly, the difference between erosion rates of surface-gleyed red and yellow soils and other soils will be even greater if a soil crust has formed, because the formation of a soil crust increases the rain splash erosion rate.

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Downhill movement of litter and its implication for ecological studies in three types of forest in Japan

Cited by 31 publications

References 1 publication

Protective effect of floor cover against soil erosion on steep slopes forested with Chamaecyparis obtusa (hinoki) and other species

Protective effect of floor cover against soil erosion on steep slopes forested with Chamaecyparis obtusa (hinoki) and other species

The role of forest stand density in controlling soil erosion: implications to sediment-related disasters in Japan

Experimental studies on rain splash erosion of forest soils after clearing in Okinawa using an artificial rainfall apparatus

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