• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2021

In this study, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) inputs by the litterfall of Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher) planted in pine wilt disease-disturbed forests were determined. The study sites were located in Sacheon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do. Eight plots under two regeneration sites (DR: four plots of C. obtusa planted under slightly disturbed Pinus thunbergii stands; CR: four plots of C. obtusa planted following the clear-cutting of severely disturbed pine stands) were established to collect litterfall from December 2018 to December 2019. The growth of diameter at breast height (DBH) was significantly higher in the CR treatment (12.10 cm) than that in the DR treatment (9.42 cm). C and N concentrations and the C/N ratio in C. obtusa leaf litter did not differ significantly between the two regeneration treatments, but the C/N ratio was significantly lower in the leaf litter collected in October (93) relative to that collected in December (143). The C concentration of litterfall components was significantly higher in C. obtusa leaf litter and in P. thunbergii needle litter than in broadleaved and miscellaneous litter, whereas the N concentration in broadleaved and miscellaneous litter was significantly higher than that in the leaf litter of C. obtusa and in branch litter. Thus, the C/N ratio was significantly higher in C. obtusa leaf litter and branch litter compared with that in miscellaneous and broadleaved litter. Respective C and N inputs by leaf litter were 773 kg C ha-1 yr-1 and 6.95 kg N ha-1 yr-1 for the CR treatments, and 78 kg C ha-1 yr-1 and 0.70 kg N ha-1 yr-1 for the DR treatment. Total C and N inputs were higher for the DR treatment (3,765 kg C ha-1 yr-1 and 47.6 kg N ha-1 yr-1, respectively) than for the CR treatment (1,290 kg C ha-1 yr-1 and 17.2 kg N ha-1 yr-1, respectively). These results indicate that, for C. obtusa, the DBH growth in the CR treatment was superior to that in the DR treatment, but the C and N inputs by litterfall were considerably reduced in CR treatments.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.113-116
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• 2000

Different phenological patterns of leaf and fruit fall among native and non-native riparian species provide a spatially and temporally heterogeneous series of alternative food resources for detritivores. Relatively little is known about qualitative differences among these different riparian species. Rates of litter inputs, decomposition, and retention for different sources of riparian litter require long-term documentation. Species of freshwater shrimps, crabs. insects. and gastropods are known to consume a wide range of litter inputs but how these dynamic food webs function under changing climatic and land-use conditions is unknown, especially in tropical streams. On-going studies in the Luquillo Experimental Forest. Puerto Rico provide an example of how inputs of fronds and fruits from palms (Prestoea montana) serve as important foods and microhabitat for species of freshwater crabs and shrimp. Native riparian species such as Prestoea montana are commonly distributed in the Luquillo Mountains especially along steep slopes and stream banks. After tropical storms with high winds, the large fronds from these native riparian trees provide important inputs of leaf litter to the stream food web. In some streams, the input of ripe fruit from non-native trees such as Java plum (Syzigium jambos) also provides a major source of detrital food resources, especially during periods when fruit fall from native species of palms may be limited.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.123-127
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• 2009

Weight loss and nutrient dynamics of Quercus mongolica leaf litter during decomposition were investigated from December 2005 through August 2008 in Mt. Worak National Park as a part of National Long-Term Ecological Research Program in Korea. The decay constant (k) of Q. mongolica litter was 0.26. After 33 months decomposition, remaining weight of Q. mongolica litter was 49.3$\pm$4.4%. Initial C/N and C/P ratios of Q. mongolica litter were 43.3 and 2,032, respectively. C/N ratio in decomposing litter decreased rapidly from the beginning to nine months decomposition, and then showed more or less constant. C/P ratio increased to 2,407 after three months decomposition, and then decreased steadily thereafter. N and P concentration increased significantly during decomposition. N immobilization occurred from the beginning through 18 months decomposition, and mineralization occurred afterwards in decomposing litter. P immobilized significantly from fifteen months during decomposition. K concentration decreased rapidly from the beginning to six months decomposition. However it showed an increasing pattern during later stage of decomposition. Remaining K decreased rapidly during early stage of decomposition. There was no net K immobilization. Ca concentration increased from the beginning to twelve months decomposition, and then decreased rapidly till twenty one months elapsed. However, it increased again thereafter. Ca mineralization occurred from fifteen months. Mg concentration increased during decomposition. There was no Mg immobilization during litter decomposition. After 33 months decomposition, remaining N, P, K, Ca and Mg in Q. mongolica litter were 79.2, 110.9, 36.2, 52.7 and 74.4%, respectively.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.537-545
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• 2012

Decay rate and nutrient dynamics during leaf litter decomposition of deciduous Quercus acutissima were compared between Gongju and Jinju for 33 months from December 2008 through March 2011. Percent remaining weight of Q. acutissima leaf litter after 33 months elapsed in Gongju and in Jinju was $41.2{\pm}0.4%$ and $28.3{\pm}0.6%$, and decay constant (k) was 0.39 and 0.61, respectively. Decomposition in Jinju was significantly faster than that in Gongju. This seemed to be related to higher temperature and precipitation in Jinju than those in Gongju during the experimental period. Initial C/N and C/P ratio of Q. acutissima leaf litter was 46.8 and 270.9, respectively. After 33 months elapsed, C/N and C/P ratios in Gongju decreased to 22.0 and 106.8, and those in Jinju decreased to 19.2 and 170.2, respectively. Initial concentration of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in Q. acutissima leaf litter was 8.31, 0.44, 4.18, 9.38, 1.37 mg/g, respectively. After 33 month elapsed, remaining N, P, K, Ca and Mg were 91.0, 85.4, 30.2, 47.9, 11.7% in Gongju, and 67.0, 54.2, 19.9, 30.0, 40.8% in Jinju, respectively. Except for Mg, remaining nutrients of decomposing leaf litter in Jinju were lower than those in Gongju. In case of N and P, initial immobilization was observed, however, only mineralization was observed in K, Ca and Mg during the whole experimental period.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.585-591
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• 2006

We measured the litterfall quantity and investigated the nutrient dynamics in decomposing litter for three years at the LTER sites installed in a deciduous broadleaf natural forest in Mt. Gyebangsan, South Korea. Litterfall production was significantly different among the sampling dates, whereas it was not significantly different among the years. The total annual mean litterfall production for three years was 6,593 kg $ha^{-1}$ $yr^{-1}$ and leaf litter accounted for 82.6% of the litterfall. The leaf litter quantity was highest in Quercus mongolia, followed by leaf of other species, Betula schmidtii, Kaplopanax pictus, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum, etc., which are dominant tree species in the site. The mass loss from the decomposition of leaf litter was fastest in Cortinus controversa (100%), followed by A. preudo-sieboldianum, K. pictus, and B. schmidtii. 100% of litter for C. controversa, 96.1% for A. pseudo-sieboldianum, 92.8% for K. pictus decomposed, while 66.2% of litter for Q. mongolia decayed for 1,003 days. The lower rate of the mass loss in the litter of Q. mongolia may be attributed to the difference in substrate quality, such as lower nutrient concentrations compared with those of other tree species. The concentrations of N, P, and Ca for five litter types increased over time, while the concentrations of K and Mg decreased over time. Compared with the nutrients in the litter of Q. mongolia, the nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) in the litter of other species, C. controversa, A. pseudo-sieboldianum, and K. pictus, were released more rapidly. The results showed that the mass loss and the nutrient dynamics in the litter are variable depending on the tree species even in the same site conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.163-163
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• 2003

The study area, Kwangneung Experiment Forest (KEF) is located on the west-central portion of Korean peninsula and belongs to a cool-temperate broadleaved forest zone. At the old-growth deciduous forest near Soribong-peak (533.1m) in KEF, we have established a permanent plot and a flux tower, and the site was registered as a KLTER site and also a KoFlux site. In this study, we aimed to present basic ecological characteristics and synthetic data of carbon budgets and flows, and some monitoring data which are essential for providing important parameters and validation data for the forest dynamics models or biogeochemical dynamics models to predict or interpolate spatially the changes in forest ecosystem structure and function. We made a stemmap of trees in 1 ha plot and analyzed forest stand structure and physical and chemical soil characteristics, and estimated carbon budgets by forest components (tree biomass, soils, litter and so on). Dominant tree species were Quercus serrata and Carpinus laxiflora, and accompanied by Q. aliena, Carpinus cordata, and so on. As a result of a field survey of the plot, density of the trees larger than 2cm in DBH was 1,473 trees per ha, total biomass 261.2 tons/ha, and basal area 28.0 m2/ha. Parent rock type is granite gneiss. Soil type is brown forest soil (alfisols in USDA system), and the depth is from 38 to 66cm. Soil texture is loam or sandy loam, and its pH was from 4.2 to 5.0 in the surface layer, and from 4.8 to 5.2 in the subsurface layer. Seasonal changes in LAI were measured by hemispherical photography at the l.2m height, and the maximum was 3.65. And the spatial distributions of volumetric soil moisture contents and LAIs of the plot were measured. Litterfall was collected in circular littertraps (collecting area： 0.25m2) and mass loss rates and nutrient release patterns in decomposing litter were estimated using the litterbag technique employing 30cm30cm nylon bags with l.5mm mesh size. Total annual litterfall was 5,627 kg/ha/year and leaf litter accounted for 61% of the litterfall. The leaf litter quantity was highest in Quercus serrata, followed by Carpinus laxiflora and C. cordata, etc. 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. The carbon pool in living tree biomass including below ground biomass was 136 tons C/ha, and 5.6 tons C/ha is stored in the litter layer, and about 92.0 tons C/ha in the soil to the 30cm in depth. Totally more than about 233.6 tons C/ha was stored in DK site. And then we have drawn a schematic diagram of carbon budgets and flows in each compartment of the KEF site.

• 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.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.401-410
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• 2011

We assayed the effects of simulated acid rain on the mass loss, $CO_2$ evolution, dehydrogenase activity, and microbial biomass-C of decomposing Sorbus alnifolia leaf litter at the microcosm. The dilute sulfuric acid solution composed the simulated acid rain, and the microcosm decomposition experiment was performed at 23$^{\circ}C$ and 40% humidity. During the early decomposition stage, decomposition rate of S. alnifolia leaf litter, and microbial biomass, $CO_2$ evolution and dehydrogenase activity were inhibited at a lower pH; however, during the late decomposition stage, these characteristics were not affected by pH level. The fungal component of the microbial community was conspicuous at lower pH levels and at the late decomposition stage. Conversely, the bacterial community was most evident during the initial decomposition phase and was especially dominant at higher pH levels. These changes in microbial community structure resulting from changes in microcosm acidity suggest that pH is an important aspect in the maintenance of the decomposition process. Litter decomposition exhibited a positive, linear relationship with both microbial respiration and microbial biomass. Fungal biomass exhibited a significant, positive relationship with $CO_2$ evolution from the decaying litter. Acid rain had a significant effect on microbial biomass and microbial community structure according to acid tolerance of each microbial species. Fungal biomass and decomposition activities were not only more important at a low pH than at a high pH but also fungal activity, such as $CO_2$ evolution, was closely related with litter decomposition rate.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2005

In a forest ecosystem, the major source of soil carbon input is from litterfall and its decomposition. To understand the effect of litterfall and litter decomposition on seasonal variation of soil respiration and litter decomposition rates were measured in temperate deciduous forest in Korea. Annual litterfall collected from litter trap (1m x 1m) were 147.5 ± 8.2g Cm/sup -2/ yr/sup -1/ in 2003. About 47% of litterfall were Quercus serrata leaf followed by Carpinus laxiflora leaf (27 %), Carpinus cordata leaf (7 %), and others, such as other leaf, bark, branch, and acorn, were 20%. The decomposition rate was the highest in C. cordata (33.03%, k = 0.46), followed by C. laxiflora (25.73%, k = 0.30), and Q. serrata (24.17%, k = 0.28). The continuous measurement of soil respiration from January 2004 to December 2004 was carried out using AOCC (Automatic Open-Closed multi-Chamber system). The annual soil respiration rate was 629.6g Cm/sup -2/ yr/sup -1/ and the litter decomposition was 30.0g Cm/sup -2/ yr/sup -1/. The portion of litter decomposition rate on soil respiration rate was about 5%. From January to February, when the soil respiration rate was the lowest, about 11 % of soil respiration (7.4 ± l.4g Cm/sup -2/ month/sup -1/) were effected by litter decomposition rate (0.8g Cm/sup -2/ month/sup -1/). The highest soil respiration rate (111.5 ± 16.2g Cm/sup -2/ month/sup -1/) and litter decomposition rate (11.4g Cm/sup -2/ month/sup -1/) were showed in July to August. According to the regression analysis between soil respiration rate and litter decomposition, the soil respiration rate were related to litter decomposition with the correlations (r = 0.63).

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.69 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 1985

Forest soils mixed with organic matters (green needle, flesh needle litter and needle litter in F layer of Pinus koraiensis, and green leaf of Quercus dentata and Q. variabilis) were incubated under a constant $30^{\circ}C({\pm}1)$ for 53 days to measure the changes of inorganic nitrogen and $CO_2$ evolution rate. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1) In the early incubation period the amounts of total inorganic nitrogen in soils by mixture of organic matters decreased rapidly because of immobilization by microbial uptake, and thereafter their amounts increased with further incubation. 2) The rate of immobilization of organic nitrogen in mixed organic matters was the highest in green needle among green needle, flesh needle litter and needle litter in F layer of P. koraiensis, but lower than that of green leaf of Q. variabilis and Q. dentata. 3) The rates of $CO_2$ evolution from soils mixed with organic matters increased sharply in the early time, and then decreased slowly with increasing time. The order of the $CO_2$ evolution rate was green leaf of Q. variabilis > green leaf of Q. dentata > green needle of P. koraiensis > flesh needle litter of P. koraiensis > needle litter of P. koraiensis in F layer from the largest to the least. 4) Nitrate nitrogen concentrations showed a tendency to increase throughout incubation time, so that their concentrations after 53 days were higher than that of ammonium nitrogen.