• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.81-89
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• 2020

In the forest ecosystems, litterfall is an important component of the nutrient cycle that regulates the accumulation of soil organic matter (SOM), the input and output of the nutrients, nutrient replenishment, biodiversity conservation, and other ecosystem functions. Therefore, a profound understanding of the major processes (litterfall production and its decomposition rate) in the cycle is vital for sustainable forest management (SFM). Despite these facts, there is still a limited knowledge in tropical forest ecosystems, and further researches are highly needed. This shortfall of research-based knowledge, especially in tropical forest ecosystems, may be a contributing factor to the lack of understanding of the role of plant litter in the forest ecosystem function for sustainable forest management, particularly in the tropical forest landscapes. Therefore, in this paper, I review the role of plant litter in tropical forest ecosystems with the aims of assessing the importance of plant litter in forest ecosystems for the biogeochemical cycle. Then, the major factors that affect the plant litter production and decomposition were identified, which could direct and contribute to future research. The small set of studies reviewed in this paper demonstrated the potential of plant litter to improve the biogeochemical cycle and nutrients in the forest ecosystems. However, further researches are needed particularly on the effect of species, forest structures, seasons, and climate factors on the plant litter production and decomposition in various types of forest ecosystems.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.335-340
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• 2003

Patterns of mass loss and nutrient release from decomposing oak (Quercus mongolica) and mixed litters (Q. mongolica, Betula schmidtii, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum, Kalopanx pictus and Tilia amurensis) in a natural hardwood forest in Gyebangsan (Mt.) were examined using litterbags placed on the forest floor for 869 days. Mass loss rates from decomposing litter were consistently higher in mixed litter (59%) than in oak litter types (52%) during the study period. Nutrient concentrations such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg) from decomposing litter were also higher in mixed litter than in oak litter types. Nutrient concentrations (N, P, Ca, and Mg) increased compared with initial concentration of litter, while K concentrations dropped rapidly at the first 5 months and then stabilized. The results suggest that mas loss and nutrient release obtained from decomposing litter of single species in mixed hardwood forest ecosystem should be applied with caution because of the potential differences of mass loss and nutrient release between single litter and mixed litter types.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.38-48
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• 2013

Decomposition of plant material is an important component in the study of forest ecosystem because of its critical role in nutrient cycling. Different tree species has different nutrient release patterns, which are related to leaf litter quantitative traits and seasonal environmental factors. The quantitative traits of leaf litter are important predictors of decomposition and decomposition rates increase with greater nutrient availability in the forest ecosystems. At the ecosystem level, litter quantitative traits are most often related to the physical and chemical characteristics of the litter, for example, leaf toughness and leaf mass per unit area, and lignin content tannin and total phenolics. Thus, the analysis of litter quantitative traits and decomposition are highly important for the understanding of nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. By studying the role of litter quantitative traits on decomposition and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems will provide a valuable insight to how quantitative traits influence ecosystem nutrient dynamics. Such knowledge will contribute to future forest management and conservation practices.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.385-391
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• 2017

This study was conducted to estimate litter carbon stock change from the National Forest Inventory (NFI) data for national greenhouse gas inventory report. Litter carbon stocks were calculated from the NFI dataset in NFI5 (2008) and NFI6 (2013) in Gangwon province. Total carbon stock change of litter was $0.68{\pm}0.71\;t\;C/ha$ from NFI5 (2008) to NFI6 (2013), however, there was no significant difference between the both dataset at 2008 and 2013 year. Litter carbon stock of coniferous stands was higher than deciduous stands in NFI5 (2008) and NFI6 (2013) (P<0.05). This study was limited to pilot study, so we will assess litter carbon stock using more complete data from NFI systems. It can be used as data sources for national greenhouse gas inventory report on forest sector.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2003

Litterfall and litter decomposition represent a major contribution to the carbon and nutrient inputs in a forest ecosystem. We measured litterfall quantity and nutrient dynamics in decomposing litter for two years at the Kwangneung broadleaf natural forest (DK site) in Korea. Litterfall was collected in circular littertraps (collecting area : 0.25 $m^2$) and mass loss rates and nutrient release patterns in decomposing litter were estimated using the litterbag technique employing 30 cm ${\times}$ 30 cm nylon bags with 1.5 mm mesh size. Total annual litterfall was 5,627 kg/ha/yr and leaf litter accounted for 61 % of the litterfall. The leaf litter quantity was highest in Quercus serrata, fallowed by Carpinus laxiflora and C. cordata, etc., which are dominant tree species in the site. Mass loss from decomposing leaf litter was more rapid in C. laxiflora and C. cordata than in Q. serrata litter. About 77% of C. laxiflora and 84% of C. cordata litter disappeared, while about 48% in Q. serrata litter lost over two years. Lower mass loss rates of Q. serrata litter may be attributed to the difference of substrate quality such as lower nutrient concentrations compared with the other litter types. Nutrient concentrations (N, P, Mg) of three litter types except for potassium (K) increased compared with initial nutrient concentrations of litter over the study period. Compared with Q. serrata litter, nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) in C. laxiflora and C. cordata litter were released rapidly. The results suggest that litter mass loss and nutrient dynamic processes among tree species vary considerably in the same site conditions.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2022

This study was conducted to examine litter inputs and litter decomposition rates following thinning, which is among the most important forest management activities that enhance the beneficial functions in Korean forests. Litter inputs and litter decomposition rates following a 2-year elapse from thinning in Pinus densiflora and following a 7-year elapse from thinning in Quercus variabilis stands were measured for 2 years from 16 sites in three regions (Sancheong-gun, Uiryeong-gun, and Jinju-si) in Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. Annual needle litter inputs in P. densiflora stands were significantly decreased following thinning, whereas annual broadleaved leaf litter inputs in Q. variabilis stands were not significantly different between thinned and unthinned treatments. The annual mean total litter inputs in both tree species were significantly lower in the thinned (P. densiflora: 3,653 kg ha^-1 year^-1; Q. variabilis: 4,963 kg ha^-1 year^-1) compared to the unthinned stands (P. densiflora: 5,138 kg ha^-1 year^-1; Q. variabilis: 5,997 kg ha^-1 year^-1) during the study period. The mass loss rates from decomposing needle litter in P. densiflora stands were significantly lower (p<0.05) in the thinned stands than in the unthinned stands for two sampling dates of the eight included in the study, whereas the decomposition rates from decomposing leaf litter in Q. variabilis stands were not affected by thinning. The results indicate that thinning effects on total litter inputs remained clear following a 2-year elapse from thinning in P. densiflora stands and following a 7-year elapse from thinning in Q. variabilis stands.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.33-43
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• 1997

The production and decomposition rate of litters of major forest trees in Korea, such as Quercus acutissima, Quercus mogolica Robinia pseudoacacia Pinus rigida, Pinus thunbergiana, Abies koreana,Phy'llostackys reticulata, were estimated by Olson model. The amount of mineral nutrients in litters and soil were measured, and the relationships among them were studied. The annual litter production was the most in the forest of broadleaved deciduous trees and the least in the forest of monocotyledonous trees. The decomposition rate of broadleaved deciduous litters was higher than that of coniferous litters and lower than that of R. pseudoacacia litters. The time required for the decomposition of half of the accumulated organic matter of R.pseudoacacia litter, Quercus litter, P. rigida litter, Ph. reticulata litter, P. thunbergiana litter and .4.koreana litter in the forest stands were 1.263 years, 2.290~2.365 years, 2.644 years, 4.660 years,4.750 years, 6.699 years respectively. The amounts of N in litters and the amounts of N returned to the soil in the forests of R. pseudoacacia. Quercus, Pinus were proportional to the decay rate of organic matter. Key words: Annual litter production, Decomposition rate.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2010

The present study was conducted to quantify wood and leaf litter decomposition and nutrient release of a dominant tree species, Tectona grandis Linn. F. in a tropical dry deciduous forest of Rajasthan, Western India. The mean relative decomposition rate was maximum in the wet summer and minimum during dry summer. Rainfall and its associated variables exhibited greater control over litter decomposition than temperature. The concentrations of N and P increased in decomposing litter with increasing retrieval days. Mass loss was negatively correlated with N and P concentrations. The monthly weight loss was significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with soil moisture and rainfall in both wood and leaf litter. Tectona grandis was found to be most suitable tree species for plantation programmes in dry tropical regions as it has high litter deposition and decomposition rates and thus it has advantages in degraded soil restoration and sustainable land management.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 2000

Soil samples were collected in thirteen Manitoba boreal forest sites. Spatial distribution of chytrids from diverse boreal forest microhabitats was investigated by baiting with jack pine pollen. After baiting, the pollen was surveyed for chytrids for 8 ten day period and individual species were counted. Total infestations of pollen by chytrids ranged from 5.8% to 90.2% from various soils. Each site with high infestation was characterized by litter with high needle content while mineral soil or soil with limited organic matter yielded low levels of pollen infestation. Species diversity tended to be higher in soils with higher pollen infestation and lower in soils with lower pollen infestation. Lower diversity was generally observed in mineral soils or soils with a limited organic horizon comprised, in part, of broad leaf litter. Based on coefficients of association and species in common among species across the collection sites, it was possible to relate dominant species assemblages in site groups. These species assemblages in the site groups suggest that the chytrids are distributed by litter and soil types. It can be concluded that the substratum characteristics of litter types and availability of litter may be important in describing chytrid distribution in boreal forest sites.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.313-319
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• 2003

Dry weight loss and nutrient release from leaf litter for six tree species were studied using litter bag methods. The litter bags were incubated for f6 months on the forest floor in temperate deciduous forest in Mt. Cheonma, located at the middle part of Korean Peninsula. The changes in nutrient content and the rate of dry weight loss in leaf litter varied with litter types. The litter of Pinus densiflora showed the lowest rate of mass loss (k=0.33), nitrogen concentration (0.89%) and ash concentration (2.50%), while showed the highest C/N ratio (63.40). On the other hand, the litter of Acer pseudo-sieboldianum showed the fastest rate of mass loss (k=0.82), the highest nitrogen concentration (1.11%), and the lowest C/N ratio (49.40). During the decomposition, nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium in the leaf litters showed relatively slow decreasing pattern compared to other elements (carbon, potassium, magnesium, manganese and sodium), but potassium and sodium decreased at early stage of the decomposition for all leaf litters. Differences in annual decomposition rates of litter among species were consistent with the particular chemical characteristics of their leaf litters. The initial concentration of nitrogen was positively correlated with litter decomposition rate for six species, while litter decomposition rate of six species was negatively correlated with C:N ratio of initial leaf litters.