• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.3
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• pp.296-301
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• 2019

This study was conducted to measure litterfall and nutrient (P, K, Ca, Mg) inputs under varying degrees of disturbance by pine wilt disease in pine forests in southern Korea. Litterfall was collected to evaluate nutrient responses at different intensities of disturbance (various levels of basal area) by pine wilt disease across 2 years. Phosphorus, Ca, and Mg concentrations in needle litterfall were positively correlated (p < 0.05) with decreased disturbance intensities (increased basal area) depending on the time of sampling, whereas the nutrient concentrations in other litterfall components (branches, bark, reproductive organs, and miscellaneous litterfall) were not significantly correlated (p > 0.05) with the intensity of pine wilt disease disturbance. Dry weight and nutrient inputs through litterfall components decreased linearly with increasing intensity of disturbance by pine wilt disease (p < 0.05), except for the nutrient inputs of branch (K, Ca, Mg) and reproductive organ (K, Ca) litterfall. These results indicate that decreased litterfall across different levels of disturbance may be related to the reduced soil nutrients in pine wilt disease forests.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 2005

From published data of mature forests worldwide, Raich and Nadelhoffer suggested that total belowground carbon allocation (TBCA) could be estimated from the difference between annual rates of soil respiration and aboveground litterfall. Here we analyze new measurements of IRGA-based soil respiration and litterfall of natural mature oak forests dominated by Quercus mongolica in Korea. Rates of in situ soil respiration and aboveground litter production are highly and positively correlated. Our results disagree with the Raich and Nadelhoffer model far world forests. A regression analysis of the data from Q. mongolica forests produced the following relationship: annual soil respiration : 141 + 2.08 ${\times}$ annual litterfall. The least squares regression line has a more gentle slope (2.08) than the slope (2.92) described by Raich and Nedelhoffer for mature forests worldwide. The regression slope of our study indicates that, on average, soil respiration is about two times the aboveground litterfall-C, which further implies that TBCA is similar with annual aboveground litterfall-C at natural Q. mongolica forests in Korea. The non-zero Y-intercept (141) of the regression indicates that TBCA may be greater than litterfall-C where litterfall rate are relativery low. Over a gradient of litterfall-C ranging from 200-370 g C $m^{-2}yr^{-l}$, TBCA increased from 350-530 g C $m^{-2}yr^{-l}$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.4
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• pp.569-576
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• 2021

This study developed an estimation model for litterfall input using the stand parameters (basal area, stand density, mean DBH, and carbon stocks of the aboveground tree biomass) collected from the Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) stands of seven regions in Gyeongsangnam-do. The mean annual litterfall was 2,779 kg ha^-1 year^-1 for needles, 883 kg ha^-1 year^-1 for miscellaneous, 611 kg ha^-1 year^-1 for broadleaved, 513 kg ha^-1 year^-1 for branches, and 340 kg ha^-1 year^-1 for bark litter. The mean annual total litterfall was 5,051 kg ha^-1 year^-1. Litterfall components were significantly correlated with stand parameters, except for broadleaved litter. A stronger correlation was observed between the carbon stock of the aboveground tree biomass and all the litterfall components compared with the other stand variables. The allometric equations for all the litterfall components were significant (P < 0.05), with the stand parameters accounting for 5%-43% and 8%-42% of the variation in the needle litter and total litterfall, respectively. The results indicated that the annual litterfall inputs of the Korean red pine stands on a regional scale can be effectively estimated by allometric equations using the basal area and carbon stocks of the aboveground tree biomass.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2019

This study was conducted to determine the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) response of litterfall components as affected by N addition in compound fertilizer in a Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) stand in southern Korea. Litterfall in a mature red pine stand was collected for two years following compound fertilizer application ($N_3P_4K_1$; $P_4K_1$) and no fertilization (control). The C concentration of litterfall components was not significantly (P > 0.05) different between the $N_3P_4K_1$ and the control plots, whereas the N concentration of the litterfall components was significantly higher in the $N_3P_4K_1$ plot than in the control plot. The $N_3P_4K_1$ and $P_4K_1$ additions induced a lower C/N ratio of litterfall components compared with the control plot. Annual C and N fluxes via litterfall components were not affected by the $N_3P_4K_1$ addition over the study period, except for reproduction litter. Annual N fluxes via reproduction litter were significantly higher in the $N_3P_4K_1$ plot than in the control plot. Thus, the $N_3P_4K_1$ and $P_4K_1$ additions could modify differently nutrient distribution of the forest floor and mineral soils in a red pine stand. These results indicate that N concentration and C/N ratio in litterfall components are more susceptible to fertilizer application than the C response in litterfall components.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.97 no.2
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• pp.165-170
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• 2008

Litterfall has been recognized an important part of the forest ecosystem production, playing a major pathway in energy flow and nutrient cycling through the ecosystem. This study was carried out to examine the quantity and components, temporal variation, and spatial heterogeneity of the litterfall in the mixed broadleaved-Korean pine forest. The data were collected from the 9ha permanent experimental plot, of which on the center area, i.e. $150m{\times}150m$, the total number of 319 circular litterfall traps with the size of $0.5m^2$ were established to collect falling litterfall. The results showed that the annual amount of litterfall was totalized 3,033.7 kg/ha, occupying broad-leaves of 39.3%, conifer-leaves of 29.5%, others of 18.5%, branches of 10.4%, and seeds of 2.3%. The peak point of the litterfall production was made at the end of September, proportionating 32.2% of total amount. The analysis of semivariogram revealed the existence of high spatial heterogeneity, calculated the scale of spatial heterogeneity ranged from 11.6 m to 29.1 m. The result of proportion (C/[Co+C]) showed that spatial heterogeneity of autocorrelation in total spatial heterogeneity were from 97.0% to 100%. The relatively heavy branches and others had significant differences in litterfall production between the areas of canopy gap and closed canopy in the 95% probability level, but the other components did not show statistical differences.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2007

Litter production, nutrient contents of each component of litterfall and amount of nutrients returned to forest floor via litterfall were investigated from May 2005 through April 2006 in Quercus mongolica, Quercus variabilis and Pinus densiflora forests at Mt. Worak National Park. Total amount of litterfall during one year in Q. mongolica, Q. variabilis and P. densiflora forests was 542.7, 459.2 and $306.9\;g\;m^{-2}\;yr^{-1}$, respectively. Of the total litterfall, leaf litter, branch and bark, reproductive organ and the others occupied 50.3%, 22.7%, 10.1 % and 16.9% in Q. mongolica forest, 81.9%, 7.2%, 3.1% and 7.9% in Q. variabilis forest, 57.4%, 12.8%, 5.6% and 24.1 % in P. densiflora forest, respectively. Nutrients concentrations in oak litterfall were higher than those in needle litter. N, P, K, Ca and Mg concentration in leaf litterfall were 13.8, 1.1, 7.2, 4.2 and 1.3 mg/g for Q. mongolica forest, 10.5, 0.7, 3.2, 3.7 and 1.6 mg/g for Q. variabilis forest, 5.3, 0.4, 1.2, 2.8 and 0.6mg/g for P. densiflora forest, respectively. The amount of annual input of N, P, K, Ca and Mg to the forest floor via litterfall was 43.36, 2.89, 21.38, 23.31 and $5.62\;kg\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$ for Q. mongolica forest, 32.28, 2.01, 10.23, 20.29 and $7.78\;kg\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$ for Q. variabilis forest, 15.80, 1.04, 3.99, 9.70 and $2.10\;kg\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$ for P. densiflora forest, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.347-351
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• 2005

The amounts of organic carbon and several nutrients in litterfall on the forest floor of Quercus mongolica forest were assessed for two years from 1998 through 2000 in Mt. Songnisan National Park in Korea. The amounts of organic carbon (C) in litterfall were the highest in autumn with the values of $150.4g/m^2$ (62.6%) in 1998 and $219.2g/m^2$ (61.0%) in 1999. In winter, organic C was the lowest with the values of $16.3g/m^2$ (6.8%) in 1998 and $12.5g/m^2$ (6.7%) in 1999. It was estimated that the organic C added to forest floor via litterfall was 240.1 $g{\cdot}m^{-2}yr^{-1}$ and 186.6 $g{\cdot}m^{-2}yr^{-1}$ 1998 and 1999, respectively. The amounts of nitrogen (N) in litterfall were the highest in autumn with the values of 5.9 $g/m^2$ (58.0%) in 1998 and 5.2 $g/m^2$ (62.3%) in 1999. The amount of phosphorus (P) in litterfall showed its peak in autumn with 0.19 $g/m^2$ (52.9%) in 1998 and 0.11 $g/m^2$ (52.6%) in 1999. The amount of P returned to forest floor via litterfall was 0.35 $g{\cdot}m^{-2}yr^{-1}$ in 1998 and 0.22 $g{\cdot}m^{-2}yr^{-1}$ in 1999. The amount of potassium (K) in litterfall showed its peak in autumn with 0.57 $g/m^{2}$ (53.8%) in 1998 and 0.42 $g/m^2$ (55.3%) in 1999. The amounts of K returned to forest floor via litterfall was 1.11 $g{\cdot}m^{-2}yr^{-1}$ in 1998 and 0.81 $g{\cdot}m^{-2}yr^{-1}$ in 1999.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.113 no.1
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• pp.97-106
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• 2024

Evaluating carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) inputs from litterfall is important for soil nutrient management to enhance forest productivity and to understand the mechanisms of nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. This study was conducted to compare C and N inputs from litterfall components of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don an d Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher planted in adjacent sites in the Jinju Research and Experimental Forests in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. Litterfall into litter traps was collected at three-month intervals between December 2020 and December 2021, and the C and N concentrations of the litterfall components were measured. Litterfall amounts were not significantly different between the plantations, except for reproductive litterfall components. Litterfall accumulation peaked between December and March. The litterfall C concentration in the needle and seed litterfall was significantly higher for C. obtusa than for C. japonica. By contrast, the C concentrations in needle and flower litterfall differed seasonally. The mean N concentration of needle litterfall was significantly higher in C. japonica (0.96%) and C. obtusa collected between June and September (1.01%) than in the other seasons (C. japonica: 0.43%; C. obtusa: 0.53%). Carbon and N inputs in both plantations were highest in needle litterfall collected from December to March and lowest in needle litterfall collected from June to September. Annual C input by litterfall was similar between the plantations (C. japonica: 3,054 kg C ha^-1 yr^-1; C. obtusa: 3,129 kg C ha^-1 yr^-1), whereas total N input was higher for C. japonica (46.93 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1) than for C. obtusa (25.17 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1). The higher N input in the C. japonica plantation than in the C. obtusa plantation was associated with the input of reproductive components. These results could be applied to improve stand-scale models of C and N cycling by litterfall components in C. japonica an d C. obtusa plantations.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.261-265
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• 2009

Litter production, nutrient concentration of each component of litterfall and amount of nutrients input to forest floor via litterfall were investigated for three years from May 2005 through April 2008 in Pinus densiflora forest at Mt. Worak National Park. Amount of litterfall in 2005, 2006, 2007 were 3.070, 3.066, 3.099 ton $ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$, respectively. Average amount of litterfall for three years was $3.078{\pm}0.018\;ton\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$. Average percentage of leaf litter, branch and bark, reproductive organ and the miscellaneous for three years were 61.9, 10.4, 5.2, 22.5%, respectively. Average amount of N, P, K, Ca and Mg returned to forest floor via litterfall for three years in this P. densiflora forest were 18.014, 0.878, 4.240, 7.349 and 2.172 kg $ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.94 no.5 s.162
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• pp.302-306
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• 2005

Litterfall and nutrient inputs were measured in even-aged coniferous plantations (a 31-year-old Pinus rigida and a 31-year-old Larix leptolepis) on a similar site condition in the Forest Practice Research Center, Gyeonggi Province. Litterfall was collected monthly from circular littertraps (collecting area: $0.50m^2$) for three years between April 1997 and February 2000. Average total annual litterfall was significantly higher for pine (5,802 kg/ha/yr) than for larch (4,562 kg/ha/yr) plantations. Needle litter in both plantations accounted for about 63% of total litterfall. Litterfall in the larch was distributed as follows: needle > other leaf > branch > miscellaneous > bark, while it was needle > miscellaneous > other leaf > branch > bark in the pine plantation. There was no temporal variation in needle litter, other leaf and bark during the 3 year study period. The concentrations of all nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) in needle litter were significantly higher in the larch than in the pine plantations. The annual nutrient concentration of needle litter in the larch varied among the years, whereas no year variation of needle litter was in the pine except for phosphorus (P). Nitrogen (N) and P inputs by needle litter were significantly higher for larch than for pine plantations established on a similar soil. The differences in N and P inputs were attributed to lower nutrient concentration in pine needle litter compared with larch needle litter, not to total needle litter mass. Annual inputs of nutrient in both plantations were not significantly different among years except for K of the larch although there was yearly different in needlefall mass and nutrient concentration during the 3-year observed period. The results indicate that the mechanisms of litterfall and nutrient inputs vary considerably between pine and larch plantations established on a similar site condition.