First-Year Breakdown of Leaf Litter in Southern Appalachian Forests

Abstract

Breakdown of organic matter, an important step in the ecological circulation of chemical elements, was measured in Great Smoky Mountain and Oak Ridge forests. Greatest variation in first-year weight loss of leaves in nylon net bags was due to species (Fagus grandifolia 21 percent, Acer saccharum 32 percent, Quercus shumardii 34 percent, Quercus alba 39 percent, Morus rubra 64 percent). At elevations of 5200, 3400, and 850 ft, losses for all five species averaged, respectively, 29, 34, and 40 percent for leaves placed in spruce, hemlock, and pine stands, and 35, 40, and 46 percent for leaves placed in beech, cove hardwood, and whiteoak stands.

Sustainability of Wood Productivity of Pinus TaedaBased on Nutrient Export and Stocks in the Biomass and in the Soil

“…Based on the k value, the average time required for the renewal of the litter layer on the soil and the time period required for decomposition of 50 % (0.693/k) and 95 % (3/k) of the litter were estimated according to Shanks and Olson (1961).…”

Forest-prairie boundary energetics and secondary succession

“…the change are similar to those reported in other studies (Bocock, 1964;Bocock and Gilbert, 1957;Falconer, Wright and Beall, 1933;Olson, 1963;Shanks and Olson, 1961;Wiegert and Evans, 1964).…”

“…This accumu lation of mass, thus energy, on the forest floor has never been reported to have any detrimental effect on the total productivity of the deciduous forest system. The rate of litter decay in old fields and forests has been extensively discussed (Bocock, 1964;Bocock and Gilbert, 1957;Falconer, Wright and Beall, 1933;Olson, 1963, Shanks andOlson, 1961;Wiegert and Evans, 1964).…”

Long-term decomposition process of leaf litter from Quercus pyrenaica forests across a rainfall gradient (Spanish central system)

“…Figure I B shows the data on soil humidity (between 0 and 15 cm) determined in situ (Moreno, 1994 (Shanks and Olson, 1961). Thus, the higher decomposition constants observed in the first 2 years of the study are seen at Fuenteguinaldo (warmer) and at Navasfrías (rainier).…”