• 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 Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2013

Annual ring formation is considered a source of information to investigate the effects of environmental changes caused by temperature, air pollution, and acid rain on tree growth. A comparative investigation of annual ring growth of Cryptomeria japonica in relation to environmental changes was conducted at two sites in southern Korea (Haenam and Jangseong). Three wood disks from each site were collected from stems at breast height and annual ring growth was analyzed. Annual ring area at two sites increased over time (p > 0.05). Tree ring growth rate in Jangseong was higher than that in Haenam. Annual ring area increment in Jangseong was more strongly correlated with environmental variables than that in Haenam; annual ring growth increased with increasing temperature (p < 0.01) and a positive effect of $NO_2$ concentration on annual ring area (p < 0.05) could be attributed to nitrogen deposition in Jangseong. The correlation of annual ring growth increased with decreasing $SO_2$ and $CO_2$ concentrations (p < 0.01) in Jangseong. Variation in annual growth rings in Jangseong could be associated with temperature changes and N deposition. In Haenam, annual ring growth was correlated with $SO_2$ concentration (p < 0.01), and there was a negative relationship between precipitation pH and annual ring area (p < 0.01) which may reflect changes in nutrient cycles due to the acid rain. Therefore, the combined effects of increased $CO_2$, N deposition, and temperature on tree ring growth in Jangseong may be linked to soil acidification in this forest ecosystem. The interactions between air pollution ($SO_2$) and precipitation pH in Haenam may affect tree growth and may change nutrient cycles in this site. These results suggested that annual tree ring growth in Jangseong was more correlated with environmental variables than that in Haenam. However, the further growth of C. japonica forest at two sites is at risk from the long-term effects of acid deposition from fossil fuel combustion.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2004

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on aboveground biomass and distribution of nutrient content in tree components were determined in adjacent 41-year-old plantations of Pinus rigida Miller and Larix kaempferi Gordon on a similar soil in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province. Fertilizer was experimentally applied at the three levels [control(C), 200 N kg/ha+25 P kg/ha(LNP), and 400 N kg/ha+50 P kg/ha(HNP)] in June, 1996. The results obtained from this study were summarized as follows: Total aboveground biomass of P. rigida and L. kaempferi stands was 149, 145ton/ha for control, 166, 149ton/ha for LNP, and 152, 170ton/ha for HNP, respectively, and did not differ between the tree species. Aboveground biomass of P. rigida and L. kaempferi plantations were distributed as follows: stemwood>branch>stembark>foliage. Biomass of understory vegetation was 1,111kg/ha for P. rigida and 907kg/ha for L. kaempferi, and comprised 0.6～0.7% of the total aboveground biomass of the plantations. The concentrations of all nutrients(N, P, K, Ca, Mg) were generally higher in L. kaempferi than in P. rigida because of high nutrient uptake characteristics of Larix spp. Nutrient concentrations in tree components of P. rigida and L. kaempferi plantations were not significantly different among treatments, whereas they were significantly different between species and among tree components. The nutrient concentration in tree components of both tree species decreased in order of foliage>branch>stembark>stemwood. The contents of all nutrients were higher in the fertilized plots than in the control plots, generally the highest in LNP for P. rigida and in HNP for L. kaempferi. Total nutrient(N+P+K+Ca+Mg) contents of aboveground biomass were 703kg/ha for P. rigida and 869kg/ha for L. kaempferi, respectively.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.329-335
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• 2004

Acid deposition in forest adjacent to the industrial complexes causes soil acidification resulting in the leaching of cations, decreases of buffering capacity and increases of toxic metal concentrations such as Al, Fe, Mn and Cu in soil solution. Changes of nutrient availability equilibria by acid deposition have been known to retard the growth of pine trees. Objective of this research was to assess the critical ratios of Ca/Al and Mg/Al limiting the growth of Pinus thunbergii in the hydroponic culture. The Ca concentration and Ca/Al ratio in stalks of pine tree were increased as increasing Ca/Al molar ratio in the nutrient solution, but were not changed when the Ca/Al molar ratio was adjusted to greater than 1. Growth of Pinus thunbergii was inhibited at the Ca/Al molar ratio lower than l due to the Ca deficiency. The molar ratios of Ca/Al in the needles of Pinus thunbergii showed the similar tendency with the stalks. This indicated that Ca/Al molar ratio of 1 in the growth media was the critical level limiting the growth of Pinus thunbergii. Concentration of Mg and Mg/Al molar ratios in the stalks of pine tree were increased as increasing Mg/Al molar ratio in nutrient solution. Molar ratios of Mg/Al in the needles were increased as increasing Mg/Al ratios in nutrient solution up to 0.83, which was the critical level limiting the growth of Pinus thunbergii.

• 한국생태학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.08a
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• pp.127-131
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• 2002

In order to elucidate the characteristics of standing crop biomass, production and nutrient content of dead bole in mature ecosystem, we surveyed the dynamics of decaying bole of old-aged deciduous forest in 1993 and 2002 in Kwangnung Experimental Forest Station. In addition, we and estimated annual bole production, water content, wood density and nutrient content and compared the results with that of temperate ecosystem. Total dead wood biomass was estimated to be 5.6ton/ha in 1993 and 17.6ton/ha in 2002. Standing dead tree accounted for a total of 1.1ton/ha in 1993 and 4.8ton/ha in 2002, which was 20% and 27% of the sum of dead bole mass in 1993 and 2002, respectively. Annual production of bole biomass was 1.3 ton/ha/yr. These values fall into the low range of dead wood biomass for the mature temperate ecosystems. Tree species composing standing bole was mainly Quercus and Carpinus trees. This bole species composition resembles alive species composition of this forest. Water content of bole increased as positive logarithmically, but wood density of bole decreased as negative exponentially along with the progress of decay. N, P, Ca and Mg concentrations in decaying boles generally increased with decay, except for K. Annual nutrient input via dead bole is 1.6kg/ha/yr for N, 0.04 kg/ha/yr for P. 1.0 kg/ha/yr for K, 1.7kg/ha/yr for Ca and 0.3 kg/ha/yr for Mg, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.261-265
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• 2002

In order to elucidate the characteristics of standing crop biomass, production and nutrient content of dead bole in mature ecosystem, we surveyed the dynamics of decaying bole of old-aged deciduous forest in 1993 and 2002 in Kwangnung Experimetal Forest Station. In addition, we and estimated annual bole production, water content, wood density and nutrient content and compared the results with that of temperate ecosystem. Total dead wood biomass was estimated to be 5.6ton/ha in 1993 and 17.6 ton/ha in 2002. Standing dead tree accounted for a total of 1.1 ton/ha in 1993 and 4.8 ton/ha in 2002, which was 20% and 27$\%$ of the sum of dead bole mass in 1993 and 2002, respectively. Annual production of bole biomass was 1.3 ton/ha/yr. These values fall into the low range of dead wood biomass for the mature temperate ecosystems. Tree species composing standing bole was mainly Quercus and Carpinus trees. This bole species composition resembles alive species composition of this forest. Water content of bole increased as positive logarithmically, but wood density of bole decreased as negative exponentially along with the progress of decay. N, P, Ca and Mg concentrations in decaying boles generally increased with decay, except for K. Annual nutrient input via dead bole is 1.6 kg/ha/yr for N, 0.04 kg/ha/yr for P, 1.0 kg/ha/yr for K, 1.7 kg/ha/yr for Ca and 0.3 kg/ha/yr for Mg, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 1983

The observation of branching pattern on Magnolia denudata Desr. was performed from July 1982 to September 1983 and then computer simulation was carried out. Tree crown pattern depends on not genetic factors but also environmental factors and the determination of branchin pattern which characterized it appears to properly explain the relationships such as branching pattern and allocation of materials through the analysis of influence branches under several assumptions. Now that computer simulated simulated pattern was considered as the accumulation of two factors which controled the growth, it was represented as the stimulated tree which differs in branching rate that described allocation of material necessary for the growth of each branch. There was a tendency of allocation ratio of nutrients, i.e. subbranch to main branch to decrease by the passage of year. Under assumption that branch was branched when accumulated material reached 1, it was possible to represent the allocation of nutrients are residual $nutrient{\times}\frac{1}{1+F};in main; branch, ; residual; nutrient{\times}\frac{F}{1+F}$ in subbranch, A(iA, iC)+$F^(iA-1)$ in current twig. Like this, the basic minute difference of the allocation of nutrients according to the branch resulted in complicated patterns in the tree crown.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2010

In order to promote the growth of the trees, it is the most important to fertilize efficiently. The organic nutrient "Green-one" which list public notification number 08-organic-3-112" was registered in Rural Development Administration. The "Green-one" is the environment friendly organic nutrient with new concept which is used in planting and maintenance of the trees. The "Green-one" makes the tree grow actively. Also it has a function of the anti germ and sustainable fertilizer effect. In conclusion, "Green-one" promoted the growth of P. thunbergii excellently. Expecially the growth of the root increased. The concentration of "Green-one" dilution was more better 100 times than 300 times in trees grow. This research can apply with the test of fertilizer efficiency in landscape trees.

• 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.