• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.275-279
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• 2018

Water status of intact plants has been optically estimated by measuring reflectance at the wavelengths 1,450 nm and 1,900 nm based on their signal strengths. Although another water band at 970 nm is considered to have very small signals, the band apparently lies within the detection range of inexpensive spectrometer and plain charge-coupled device (CCD) camera used in wild fire studies. However measurement of the reflectance at 970 nm has been rarely applied to estimate the water status of dead plant materials such as fallen branch, twig, and leaf. To test the possibility of applying water reflectance at 970 nm to estimate the water content (WC) in leaf litter, the reflectance in various WC values were measured in the leaf litter of three Quercus species (Q aliena, Q aliena, Q mongolica, and Quercus variabilis). The results showed that the WC in the leaf litter can be determined by reflectance water index (WI) in the three Quercus species ($WC=1,450{\times}WI-1,378.8$, r=0.865). However, there was no interaction effect in the relationship between WI and WC among the litter of the three Quercus species.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2001

Leaf Litter processing rate of Quercus mongolica was compared with that of Carpinus cordata in a first-order stream draining Mt. Jumbong in Inje-Gun, Kangwon Province. Daily processing rate (-k . day$^{-1}$ ) of Q. mongolica leaf litter in mesh bags was 0.00503, about one-third of that of C. cordata leaf litter. Forty five macroinvertebrate taxa were collected from litter bags; 39 taxi from C. cordate and 38 taxa from Q. mongolica litter bags. Nemoura tau, a precopteran shredder, was the most abundant taxon in both leaf species, and the second was the non-predatory chironomids. In terms of biomass, Gammarus, an amphipodan shredder, was the largest. and followed by Cincticostella castanea, an ephemeropteran gatherers. The biomass of most insect taxa decreased during April to June, while that of non-insect taxa greatly increased during the same time period. Gammarus was the most important shredder talon to the leaf litter breakdown in the experimental stream and appeared to prefer C. cordata to Q. nongolica leaf litter. N. tau, in spite of its abundance, seemed to have a limited effect on the leaf litter processing . Since other shredders were minor compared with these two taxa, leaf litter processing in this stream appeared to largely depend on the feeding ecology of Gammarus.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.566-573
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• 2014

Decay rate and nutrient dynamics during leaf litter decomposition of deciduous broad leaf Quercus mongolica and evergreen needle leaf Pinus densiflora were investigated for 69 months from December 2005 to September 2011 in Mt. Worak National Park as a part of National Long-Term Ecological Research Program in Korea. Percent remaining weight of Q. mongolica and P. densiflora leaf litter after 69 months elapsed was $35.4{\pm}2.3%$ and $16.1{\pm}1.3%$, respectively. Decomposition of P. densiflora leaf litter was significantly faster than that of Q. mongolica leaf litter. Decay constant (k) of Q. mongolica and P. densiflora leaf litter after 69 months elapsed was 5.97 and 10.50, respectively. Initial C/N and C/P ratio of Q. mongolica leaf litter was 43.1 and 543.9 respectively. After 69 months elapsed, C/N and C/P ratio of decomposing Q. mongolica leaf litter decreased to 8.7 and 141.2, respectively. Initial C/N and C/P ratio of P. densiflora leaf litter was 151.2 and 391.4, respectively. After 69 months elapsed, C/N and C/P ratio of decomposing P. densiflora leaf litter decreased to 22.9. and 136.5. respectively. Initial concentration of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in leaf litter was 9.30, 0.23, 2.36, 3.14, 1.11 mg/g in Q. mongolica, and 3.02, 0.09, 1.00, 3.84, 0.62 mg/g in P. densiflora, respectively. Initial concentration of N and P in Q. mongolica leaf litter was significantly higher than those in P. densiflora. After 69 months elapsed, remaining N, P, K, Ca and Mg in decomposing leaf litter were 73.8, 60.9, 17.2, 20.3, 35.1 % in Q. mongolica, and 69.5, 75.3, 12.3, 10.9, 10.8 % in P. densiflora, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.557-565
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• 2018

We examined the nutrient dynamics during the leaf litter decomposition rate and process of Pinus rigida and Pinus koraiensis in Gongju for 21 months from December 2014 to September 2016 as a part of National Long-Term Ecological Research Program in Korea. The remaining weight rate of P. rigida and P. koraiensis leaf litter was $58.27{\pm}4.13$ and $54.08{\pm}4.32%$, respectively, indicating that the P. koraiensis leaf litter decomposed faster than P. rigida leaf litter. The decay constant (k) of P. rigida leaf litter and P.koraiensis leaf litter after 21 months was 0.95 and 1.08, respectively, indicating that P. koraiensis leaf litter decayed faster than P. rigida leaf litter probably due to the difference of nitrogen concentration between the two. The C/N ratio of P. rigida and P. koraiensis leaf litter was 64.4 and 40.6, respectively, initially, and then decreased to 41.0 and 18.9, respectively, after 21 months. The C/P ratio of P. rigida and P. koraiensis leaf litter was 529.8 and 236.5, respectively, and then decreased to 384.1, 205.2, respectively, after 21 months. The contents of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg were 6.78, 0.83, 2.84, 0.99, and 2.59 mg/g, respectively, in the P. rigida leaf litter and 10.90, 1.87, 5.82, 4.79, and 2.00 mg/g, respectively, in the P. koraiensis leaf litter, indicating that the elements except the magnesium showed higher contents in P. koraiensis. After 21 months elapsed, remaining N, P, K, Ca, and Mg was 88.4, 77.6, 26.7, 50.5 and 44.5%, respectively, in decomposing P. rigida, and 114.4, 61.3, 7.6, 115.2 and 72.0%, respectively, decomposing P. koraiensis leaf litter.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.147-155
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• 1992

Litterfall, decomposition, and dynamics of n and p in decomposing litter were investigated for 2 years in red pine ( pinus densiflora) and chinese thuja( thuja orientalis)stands in the limestone area. Average litterfall in red pine and chinese thuja stands were 4, 535kgDM ha-1 yr-1 and 5, 010 kgDM ha-1 yr-1, respectively. Seasonal litterfall in red pine and chinese thuja stands showed peaks in November. concentrations of N and P in the needle litter were lowest in the winter when the greast litterfall occurred, and highest in the summer when the least litterfall occurred. However, those in chinese thuja scale leaf litter showed litter seasonal variation.amount of N and P returned to the forest floor through litterfall were 29.02kgN ha-1 yr-1 , 2.81 kg P ha-1 yr-1 for red pine stand, and 31.06 kg N ha-1 yr-1 , 2.86kgP ha-1 yr-1 for chinese thuja stand, respectively. After 21 mounts elapsed, needle and chinese thuja scale leaf litterbags lost 34.8% and 32.5% of the initial weight, respectively. N concentrations in the docomposing needle and chines thuja scale leaf litter decreased by 19% and 30%, respectively, after 1 month elapsed, and then gradually increased to exceed the initial concentration after 9 months elapsed and then gradually increased to exceed the initial concentration after 9 months elapsed in both of them, P in needle and chines thuja scale leaf litter decreased by 54% and 57% of the initial concentration, respectively, after 1 month elapsed. unlike N, P concentration in the decomposing litter did not exceed that of initial ones. Neyt immobilization period of N and P in decomposing litter did not occur over the study period.

• 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.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.319-325
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• 2001

Transport of colored papers and decomposition of leaf litter of Quercus mongolica, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum, and Kalopanax pictus were investigated on three patches differentiated by aspect and understory in a temperate hardwood forest. Two patches are represented by dwarf bamboo (Patch SS) and herbaceous plants (Patch S), respectively, Iying on a south-west-facing slope. The other patch (Patch N) is located on a northeastfacing slope with herbaceous plants. Colored papers were placed on the patches to understand the pattern of litter movement on the ground. Papers were move dispersed in Patch S than in the other two patches. Some of the colored papers placed in Patch S moved upward. The results suggest that the litter movement is affected by aspect and that the leaf litter is retained by dwarf bamboo in Patch SS. Decay constant of Q. mongolica was significantly (p＜0.05) lower than those of K. pictus and A. pseudo-sieboldianum. Decay rates of Q. mongolica were significantly different between Patches N and S and between Patches SS and S (p＜0.05). On the other hand, decay rates of the other species were not significantly different among the three patches. The results suggest that aspect and understory exert an influence on redistribution and decomposition of leaf litter and that the effects could be different among the plant species.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.517-528
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• 2015

Litter decomposition is an important process in terrestrial ecosystem. However, studies on decomposition are rare, especially in evergreen broadleaf trees. We collected the leaf litter of five evergreen broadleaf trees (Daphniphyllum macropodum, Dendropanax morbifera, Castanopsis cuspidata var. thunbergii, Machilus thunbergii and Quercus acuta), and carried out a decomposition experiment using the litterbag method in Ju-do, Wando-gun, Korea for 731 days from December 25, 2011 to December 25, 2013. Among the five experimental tree species, C. cuspidata var. thunbergii distribution was limited in Jeju Island, and D. macropodum was distributed at the highest latitude at Mt. Baekyang (N 35°40′). About 2% of the initial litter mass of D. macropodum and D. morbifera remained, while 20.9% remained for C. cuspidata var. thunbergii, 30.4% for M. thunbergii, and 31.6% for Q. acuta. D. macropodum litter decayed four times faster (k = 2.02 yr^-1) than the litter of Q. acuta (k = 0.58 yr^-1). The decomposition of litter was positively influenced by thermal climate such as accumulated mean daily air temperature (year day index) and precipitation, as well as by physical characteristics such as thickness (R²=0.939, P = 0.007) and specific leaf area (SLA) (R² = 0.964, P = 0.003). The characteristics of chemical composition such as lignin (R² = 0.939, P = 0.007) and water-soluble materials (R² = 0.898, P = 0.014) showed significant correlations with litter decomposition. However, the nutrients in litter showed complicated species-specific trends. The litter of D. macropodum and D. morbifera had fast decomposition despite their low nitrogen concentration and high C/N ratio. This means that the litter decomposition was more strongly affected by physical characteristics than chemical composition and nutrient content. On the other hand, the litter of Q. acuta which had the slowest decay rate had a high amount of N and low C/N ratio. Thus, the decomposition of Q. acuta litter was more affected by the P content of the litter than the N content, although all litter had similar physical characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.110-117
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• 2016

Litter fall is a source of nutrients and carbon transfer in terrestrial ecosystems. Litter decomposition provides nutrients needed for plant growth, sustains soil fertility, and supplies $CO_2$ to the atmosphere. We collected the leaf litter of evergreen broadleaf tree, Camellia japonica L., and carried out a decomposition experiment using the litterbag method in Ju-do, Wando-gun, Korea for 731 days from Dec 25, 2011 to Dec 25, 2013. The leaf litter of C. japonica remained 42.6% of the initial litter mass after experiment. The decay constant (k) of C. japonica leaf litter was $0.427yr^{-1}$. The carbon content of C. japonica leaf litter was 44.6%, and the remaining carbon content during the decomposition tended to coincide with the changes in litter mass. The initial nitrogen and phosphorus content was 0.47% and 324.7 mg/g, respectively. The remaining N in decaying litter increased 1.66-fold in the early decomposition stage, then gradually decreased to 1.18-fold after 731 days. The content of P showed the highest value (1.64-fold of initial content) after 456 days, which then fell to a 1.15-fold after 731 days. The remaining Ca, K, Mg and Na content in C. japonica leaf litter tended to decrease during decomposition. The remaining K showed a remaining mass of 8.9% as a result of rapid reduction. The initial C/N and C/P ratio of C. japonica leaf litter was 94.87 and 1368.5, respectively. However, it tended to decrease as decomposition progressed because of the immobilization of N and P (2.78 and 2.68-fold of initial content, respectively) during the leaf litter decaying. The study results showed that N and P was immobilized and other nutrients was mineralized in C. japonica leaf litter during experimental period.