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Nutrient Dynamics in Forest Soil

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Forest Soils

Abstract

Forest stands produce 100–500 t ha−1 total standing biomass (dry weight) including 60–80 % in stemwood, 10–20 % in branches, 5–10 % in barks, 5–10 % in roots, and 1–5 % in leaves. About 58 % of this biomass is carbon. To produce such huge amounts of biomass, forest plants use 200–2,500 kg ha−1 N, similar amounts of K and Ca, and 20–200 kg ha−1 P. The annual uptake of nutrients by forest trees varies considerably depending on tree species and soil fertility. In one study, annual uptake rates of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg were 178.59, 27.48, 80.46, 349.39, and 63.70 kg ha−1, respectively. Some absorbed nutrients are resorbed from senescing leaves and meet the urgent needs of new flush. A part of the absorbed nutrients are retained in biomass and used for further biomass accretion. A considerable part of absorbed nutrients is returned annually in the form of litterfall, stemflow, throughfall, root decay, and death and decay of soil organisms. Litterfall is the primary route of nutrient returns in forests and annually 3–15 t ha−1 litters fall to the forest floor. Litterfall brings about 30–225 kg N ha−1 per year, 1.2–15 kg P ha−1 per year, 6–68 kg K ha−1 per year, 6.5–290 kg Ca ha−1 per year, and 1–64 kg Mg ha−1 per year in some instances. These nutrients are released to the soil nutrient pool by the decomposition of litter. Usually K, Ca and Mg and sometimes P are released from the beginning of the decomposition process, and in most of the instances, nitrogen is immobilized by decomposing organisms up to the 50 % of the mass loss, and becomes liberated afterwards.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh

    Khan Towhid Osman

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  1. Khan Towhid Osman
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Correspondence to Khan Towhid Osman .

Study Questions

Study Questions

  1. 1.

    Explain biomass, aboveground biomass, standing biomass, forest floor biomass, and litter biomass. How does the amount of standing biomass production differ among sites of varying fertility?

  2. 2.

    Discuss nutrient concentration and nutrients retained in biomass of forests. How can nutrient use efficiency be increased?

  3. 3.

    Define nutrient cycling and nutrient recycling. Discuss the process of nutrient recycling in forest ecosystems.

  4. 4.

    Narrate the significance of litterfall. Discuss factors affecting litterfall. Explain importance of throughfall and stemflow in nutrient recycling.

  5. 5.

    Explain litter decomposition as a two-stage phenomenon. Discuss factors affecting litter decomposition and nutrient release.

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© 2013 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Osman, K. (2013). Nutrient Dynamics in Forest Soil. In: Forest Soils. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02541-4_6

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