Litter decomposition and nutrient release via litter decomposition in New Zealand eucalypt short rotation forests

Litter decomposition plays a major role in the cycling of energy and nutrients in woodland ecosystems. The rates of leaf litter decomposition and the resulting nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) release were monitored over a 12-month period for Eucalyptus brookerana and two types of E. botryoides le...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Agriculture, ecosystems & environment ecosystems & environment, 1999-08, Vol.75 (1), p.133-140
Main Authors: Guo, L.B., Sims, R.E.H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
BIODEGRADACION
BIODEGRADATION
Biological and medical sciences
CICLO BIOGEOQUIMICO
CYCLE BIOGEOCHIMIQUE
CYCLING
EUCALYPTUS
FOREST LITTER
Forestry
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General forest ecology
Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology
HOJARASCA FORESTAL
LITIERE FORESTIERE
Litter decomposition
NEW ZEALAND
NOUVELLE ZELANDE
NUEVA ZELANDIA
Nutrient cycling
NUTRIENTES
NUTRIENTS
Short rotation forests
SUBSTANCE NUTRITIVE
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Summary:Litter decomposition plays a major role in the cycling of energy and nutrients in woodland ecosystems. The rates of leaf litter decomposition and the resulting nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) release were monitored over a 12-month period for Eucalyptus brookerana and two types of E. botryoides leaf litter under one population density trial of eucalypt short rotation forests. The results showed that the tree density had little influence on the rates of litter decomposition and nitrogen release, but had a significant effect on phosphorus release. The higher the population density, the slower the release. The total nitrogen and phosphorus retention in the litter increased at first, particularly for phosphorus under the highest tree density (9803 trees ha −1). There were significant differences between the rates of both litter decomposition and nutrient release among the three studied leaf litter types. Litter dry weight loss and nutrient release were faster from E. brookerana litter than from E. botryoides litter. Autumn was the main season for litter decomposition and nutrient release. Overall, short rotation forests should be managed rationally based on the fluctuation of litter decomposition, and nutrient cycling in the system to ensure a sustainable production system of land use.
ISSN:0167-8809
1873-2305
DOI:10.1016/S0167-8809(99)00069-9