Abstract
In this study, the dynamics of monthly variation in litterfall and the amount of nutrients, i.e., organic C, N, P and K, in an Aleurites montana plantation were analyzed, based on a field study and experiments over one year. The results show that the litterfall mass of A. montana collected generally presents an ascending trend with maximum defoliation occurring in the autumn and winter (October–December), accounting for 75.67% of the total amount of annual litterfall. The sequence in the amount of nutrients in A. montana litter was as follows: organic C > N > K > P; their monthly amounts show various dynamic curves. Similar to the dynamics of the mass of monthly litterfall, the monthly returns of C, N, P and K generally show an ascending trend with their peak values all occurring in December. The mass of A. montana litterfall and the dynamics of its monthly nutrient return provide, to a certain degree, a scientific reference for planting and fertilizing A. montana.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chapin F S III, Matson P A, Mooney H A. 2002. Principles of Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology. New York: Springer-Verlag
Chen J Z, Zhang S S. 2008. Aleurites montana, the renewal and repairing wood species in ecological public welfare forests. Subtrop Agric Res, 4(2): 101–104 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Fan M H, Li J Y, Fan Z Q, Tian M, Ni S. 2008. Cloning and characterization of SAD from Vernicia montana and construction of filamentous fungi expression vector. Acta Bot Boreal-Occident Sin, 28(1): 18–22 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Guan S Y. 1986. Soil Enzyme and Study Method. Beijing: China Agriculture Press (in Chinese)
Guo J F, Yang Y S, Chen G S, Lin P, Xie J S. 2006. A review on litter decomposition in forest ecosystem. Sci Silv Sin, 42(4): 93–100 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Lawrence D. 2005. Regional-scale variation in litter production and seasonality in tropical dry forests of southern Mexico. Biotropica, 37: 561–570
Li J B, Yan W D, Ma X H. 2011. Litter fall production and nutrient dynamics of Cinnamomum camphora in subtropical region. J Cent South Univ Forest Technol, 31(5): 220–228 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Liang J R. 2005. Grafting and seedling culture techniques of Aleurites montana. Spec Econ Anim Plant, (5): 28 (in Chinese)
Lin B, Liu Q, Wu Y, He H. 2004. Advances in the studies of forest litter. Chin J Ecol, 23(1): 60–64 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Lin C F, Li Z, Niu Z P, Zhang Y L, Han Y G, Chen G S. 2005. Litterfall nutrient dynamics in Fokienia hodginsii plantation. J Fujian Agric Forest Univ (Nat Sci Edn), 34(1): 63–66 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Ling J Q, Zhang X Y, Chen Y T. 1995. The comparative wood anatomy of Vernicia fordii, Vericia montana and Aleurites moluccana (Euphorbiaceae). Acta Sci Nat Univ Pek, 31(6): 745–751 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Lu L H, Jia H Y, He R M, Li J L, Tan S Y. 2008. A preliminary study on litter falls of six kinds of plantations in the tropical South Asia. Forest Res, 21(3): 346–352 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Moorhead D L, Sinsabaugh R L. 2006. A theoretical model of litter dacay and microbial interaction. Ecol Monogr, 76(2): 151–174
Polyakova O, Billor N. 2007. Impact of deciduous tree species on litterfall quality, decomposition rates and nutrient circulation in pine stands. Forest Ecol Manage, 253: 11–18
Qi Z M, Wang K Y. 2010. Litter production and nutrient return of vegetations in subalpine timberline ecotone of west Sichuan, China. Chin J Ecol, 29(3): 434–438 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Scherer-Lorenzen M, Bonilla J L, Potvin C. 2007. Tree species richness affects litter production and decomposition rates in a tropical biodiversity experiment. Oikos, 116: 2108–2124
Wei R P, Xue L, Chen H Y, Peng Y Q, Xu S K. 2005. Effects of foliage spraying with rare earth on growth and physiological index of Vernicia montana seedlings. Sci Silv Sin, 41(2): 164–168 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Wu C Z, Hong W, Jiang Z L, Zheng F H. 2000. Advances in research of forest litter-fall in China. Acta Agric Univ Jiangxi, 22(3): 405–410 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Yao R L, Ding G J, Wang Y. 2006. The annual variation feature of litter and nutrient restitution in different density Pinus massoniana plantation. J Nanjing Forest Univ, 30(5): 83–86 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Zhang X. 2009. Preliminary study on the seedling-raising techniques and nursery stock’s growth rhythm of Aleurites montana. Subtrop Agric Res, 5(3): 159–161 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Zhou L K. 1987. Soil Enzymology. Beijing: Science Press (in Chinese)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lin, H., Hong, T., Wu, Cz. et al. Monthly variation in litterfall and the amount of nutrients in an Aleurites montana plantation. For. Stud. China 14, 30–35 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11632-012-0109-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11632-012-0109-2