Dynamic of leaf litter stoichiometric traits dynamic and its relations with decomposition rates under three forest types in Three Gorges Reservoir Area

Abstract

Litter decomposition is an important link between bioelement cycles and energy flow in the forest ecosystems, and the main source of nutrients for plants and soil. The relationships were studied between leaf litter stoichiometric traits dynamic and decomposition rate under different forest types using litter bag method in this paper to quantify the effects of stoichiometric traits dynamic on leaf litter decomposition and to get a better understanding to the biochemistry of litter鄄soil continuum. The results were showed as follows: the sequence of litter decomposition rate for the three forest types was Pinus massoniana stand ( PM) < Quercus variabilis stand ( QV) < P. massoniana鄄Q. variabilis mixed stand ( PQ) and the litter decomposition rate was more and more significant with time. The remaining dry mass of litter in PM, QV and PQ were 67.