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http://dx.doi.org/10.11626/KJEB.2021.39.3.374

The long-term decay rate and nutrient dynamics during leaf litter decomposition of Pinus densiflora and Pinus thunbergii  

Lee, Il-hwan (National Institute of Ecology)
Jo, Soo-un (Suwon-city Water Works Office)
Lee, Young-sang (National Institute of Ecology)
Won, Ho-yeon (National Institute of Ecology)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Environmental Biology / v.39, no.3, 2021 , pp. 374-382 More about this Journal
Abstract
In the present study, we analyzed the decay rate and nutrient dynamics during leaf litter decomposition of Pinus densiflora and Pinus thunbergii in Gongju for 60 months, from 2014 to 2019. P. thunbergii leaf litter decomposed faster than that of P. densiflora. The decay constant of P. densiflora and P. thunbergii leaf litter after 60 months was 3.02 and 3.59, respectively. The initial C/N ratio of P. densiflora and P. thunbergii leaf litter were 14.4 and 14.5, respectively. After 60 months, C/N ratio of decomposing P. densiflora and P. thunbergii leaf litter decreased to 2.26 and 3.0, respectively. The initial C/P ratio of P. densiflora and P. thunbergii leaf litter were 144.1 and 111.3. After 60 months elapsed, the C/P ratio of decomposing P. densiflora and P. thunbergii leaf litter decreased to 40.1 and 45.8, respectively. After 60 months, the percentage of the remaining N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in decomposing P. densiflora leaf litter was 231.08, 130.13, 35.68, 48.58, and 36.03%, respectively. After 60 months, the percentage of the remaining N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in decomposing P. thunbergii leaf litter was 143.91, 74.02, 28.59, 45.08, and 44.99%, respectively. The findings of the present study provide an insight into the forest ecosystem function of coniferous forests through the analysis of the amount of nutrient transfer into the soil through a long-term decomposition process; this information is intended to be used as basic data for preparing counter measures for future climate and ecosystem changes.
Keywords
C/N ratio; C/P ratio decay constant; long term ecological research; remaining weight;
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