Structure and Function of an Age Series of Poplar Plantations in Central Himalaya: I Dry Matter Dynamics

The biomass and net primary productivity (NPP) of 5- to 8-year-oldpoplar (Populus deltoides Marsh, Clone D₁₂₁) plantations growingin the Tarai belt (low-lying plains with high water table adjacentto foothills of central Himalaya) were estimated. Allometricequations for all the above-ground and below-ground componentsof trees and shrubs were developed for each stand. Understorey,forest floor biomass, and litter fall were also estimated fromstands. The biomass of plantation, forest floor litter mass,tree litter fall and net primary productivity (NPP) of treesand shrubs increased with increase in plantation age, whereasherb biomass and NPP significantly (P < 0·01) decreasedwith increasing plantation age. The total plantation biomassincreased from 84·0 in the 5-year-old to 170·0t ha^-1 in the 8-year-old plantation and NPP from 16·8t ha^-1 year^-1 in the 5- and 6-year-old to 21·8 t ha^-1year^-1 in the 8-year-old plantation. The biomass accumulationratio (biomass: net production, BAR) for different tree componentsincreased with the age of plantation increase. The BAR ratioranged from 4·9 in the 5-year-old to 7·7 in the8-year-old plantation.Copyright 1995, 1999 Academic Press Populus deltoides plantations (Clone D₁₂₁), biomass, dry matter turnover, net primary productivity, Tarai belt of Central Himalaya     

Structure and Function of an Age Series of Eucalypt Plantations in Central Himalaya. I. Dry Matter Dynamics

The biomass and net primary productivity (NPP) of 2- to 8-year-oldplantations of Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. (= E. hybrid) growingin the tarai (a level area of superabundant water) region ofCentral Himalaya were estimated. Allometric equations for allthe above-ground and below-ground components of trees and shrubswere developed for each stand. Understorey, forest floor biomassand litter fall were also estimated from stands. Shrubs appearedfirst at 5-year-old plantation. The biomass of vegetation, forestfloor littermass, tree litter fall and net primary productivity(NPP) of trees and shrubs increased with the increase in plantationage, whereas herb biomass and NPP significantly (P < 0·01)decreased with the increase in plantation age. The total plantationbiomass increased from 7·7 t ha^–1 in the 2-year-oldto 126·7 t ha^–1 in the 8-year-old plantation andNPP from 8·6 t ha^–1 year^–1 in the 2-year-oldto 23·4 t ha^–1 year^–1 in the 8-year-old plantation.The biomass accumulation ratio ranged from 0·81 to 5·93. Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm, plantation, biomass, forest floor, litter fall, net primary productivity, biomass accumulation ratio     

Biomass accumulation over the first 150 years in coastal Oregon Picea‐Tsuga forest

Abstract. Production and mortality are the component processes that together determine the biomass dynamics of forests. Due to the significant role of forests in the global carbon cycle, it is important to assess how these two processes affect the maximum biomass attained by forests, as well as the dynamics leading up to and following peak biomass. We address these questions for two sets of plots in Picea sitchensis‐Tsuga heterophylla forest on the northern Oregon coast that originated from a catastrophic wildfire in the 1840s, using new data on dynamics of live trees and stocks of coarse woody debris (CWD). The set of plots closest to the ocean and occupying steeper, more dissected terrain with areas of thin soils has lower biomass, lower net primary production (NPP) of bole wood and higher tree mortality as a fraction of standing biomass. The two sets of plots have similar CWD levels, most of which has accumulated in the last 25 yr. The present disparity in biomass between the two sets of plots appears to be the result of lower NPP on the low‐biomass plots for the entire 140+ yr history of the forest. Over the 58 yr that the high‐biomass plots have been measured (from stand age 85 to 143 yr), NPP of bole wood has declined by 41%. Only ca. 6% of this decline can be accounted for by an increase in maintenance respiration of woody tissues. For both sets of plots relative constancy of biomass in the long term appears likely, due to a short time lag in tree regeneration, asynchronous tree mortality and little overall decline in NPP of bole wood in recent decades. However, since tree mortality as a fraction of standing biomass is higher on the low‐biomass plots, and NPP of bole wood is slightly lower, the difference in biomass between the two sets of plots should increase if current rates of production and mortality persist.     

桂东不同林龄马尾松人工林的生物量及其分配特征

根据5a、15a、21a、32a、60a生的5个不同林龄的15块1 000m2样地(3次重复)调查资料,利用21株不同年龄和径阶的马尾松样木数据,建立以胸径(D)为单变量的生物量回归方程.采用样木回归分析法(乔木层)和样方收获法(灌木层、草本层、地上凋落物)获取不同林龄马尾松人工林的生物量,并分析了其组成、分配特征及不同林龄生物量的变化趋势.结果表明:(1)林分的总生物量随林龄而增加,5a、15a、21a、32a和60a生马尾松人工林生物量分别为15.03、125.93、183.51、191.53、405.31 Mg/hm2,其中活体植物占75.01％～94.19％,地上凋落物占0.86％～24.99％.(2)层次分配方面乔木层占绝对优势,占90.20％～98.35％,且随林龄的增加而增大,其次为地上凋落物,占0.86％～24.99％;草本层和灌木层生物量较小,分别占0.47％～34.85％和0.32％～27.00％,均随林龄的增加呈递减趋势.(3)乔木层器官分配以干所占比例最高,占49.93％～83.10％,且随林龄而增加;根相对比较稳定,占6.97％～12.82％;枝、叶分别占11.75％～14.83％、1.33％～23.65％,均随林龄增大而下降.灌木层器官分配除幼龄林为根＞枝＞叶,其余的均呈枝＞根＞叶的趋势.草本层中龄林和近熟林生物量地下＞地上,其他林龄生物量地上＞地下.(4)各林龄凋落物生物量在3.48～6.68Mg/hm2,规律性不强.(5)马尾松人工林乔木层各器官及林分生物量具有良好的优化增长模型,其32a生林分生物量高于同林龄的楠木人工林,低于热带雨林,是一种速生丰产、固碳潜力大的优良造林树种.     

Variation in biomass and carbon storage by stand age in pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) planted ecosystem in Mt. Taiyue,Shanxi, China

Forest ecosystems play dominant roles in global carbon budget because of the large quantities stored in live biomass, detritus, and soil organic matter. Researchers in various countries have investigated regional and continental scale patterns of carbon (C) stocks in forest ecosystems; however, the relationship between stand age in different components (vegetation, forest floor detritus, and mineral soil) and C storage and sequestration remains poorly understood. In this paper, we assessed an age sequence of 18-, 20-, 25-, 38-, and 42-year-old Pinus tabulaeformis planted by analyzing the vertical distribution of different components biomass with similar site conditions on Mt. Taiyue, Shanxi, China. The results showed that biomass of P. tabulaeformis planted stands was ranged from 88.59 Mg ha^?1 for the 25-year-old stand to 231.05 Mg ha^?1 for the 42-year-old stand and the major biomass was in the stems. Biomass of the ground vegetation varied from 0.51 to 1.35 Mg C ha^?1 between the five stands. The forest floor biomass increased with increasing stand age. The mean C concentration of total tree was 49.94%, which was higher than C concentrations of ground vegetation and forest floor. Different organs of trees C concentration were between 54.14% and 47.74%. C concentrations stored in the mineral soil for each stand experienced decline with increasing soil depth, but were age-independent. Total C storage of five planted forests ranged from 122.15 to 229.85 Mg C ha^?1, of which 51.44–68.38% of C storage was in the soil and 28.46–45.21% in vegetation. The study provided not only with an estimation biomass of P. tabulaeformis planted forest in Mt. Taiyue, Shanxi, China, but also with accurately estimating forest C storage at ecosystem scale.     

Carbon and nitrogen storage in an age-sequence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus densiflora</Emphasis> stands in Korea

The carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage capabilities of Pinus densiflora in six different stand ages (10, 27, 30, 32, 44, and 71 years old) were investigated in Korea. Thirty sample trees were destructively harvested and 12 were excavated. Samples from the above and belowground tree components, coarse woody debris (CWD), forest floor, and mineral soil (0–30 cm) were collected. Tree biomass was highest in the 71-year-old stand (202.8 t ha⁻¹) and lowest in the 10-year-old stand (18.4 t ha⁻¹). C and N storage in the mineral soil was higher in the 71-year-old stand than in the other stands, mainly due to higher soil C and N concentrations. Consequently, the total ecosystem C and N storage (tree+forest floor+CWD+soil) was positively correlated with stand age: increasing from a minimum in the 10 year old stand (18.8 t C ha⁻¹ and 1.3 t N ha⁻¹) to a maximum in the 71-year-old stand (201.4 t C ha⁻¹ and 8.5 t N ha⁻¹). The total ecosystem C storage showed a similar sigmoidal pattern to that of tree C storage as a function of the age-sequence, while N storage in the CWD, forest floor and mineral soil showed no significant temporal trends. Our results provide important insights that will increase our understanding of C and N storage in P. densiflora stands and our ability to predict changes according to stand age in the region.     

城市土地利用是否会降低区域碳吸收能力?——台州市案例研究

城市土地利用显著改变了原有生态系统的结构和功能,特别是建成区植被的碳吸收和碳储存能力。该研究通过实地调查和测量,估算城市建成区内乔木、灌木、草坪的生物量和净初级生产力(net primary productivity,NPP),该方法考虑了园林管理(如修剪或割草)对建成区碳吸收和碳储存的影响。结果表明,台州城市树木个体生物量年增量是野外森林中同类树木的近2倍;乔木修剪量占乔木NPP的1/3。目前台州市建成区的植被碳吸收能力为2.1×103kgC.hm–2.a–1(其中乔木的贡献为64%,灌木为9%,草坪为27%),低于本地野外森林同面积的碳吸收能力;通过与野外常绿阔叶林比较发现,增加台州建成区的绿化覆盖率(从23%提高到46%)即可补偿因城市扩张引起的植被碳吸收能力的损失。     

Microbial biomass C and N,and mineralizable-N,in litter and mineral soil under Pinus radiata on a coastal sand: Influence of stand age and harvest management

Microbial biomass C and N, and anaerobically mineralizable-N, were measured in the litter and mineral soil (0–10 cm and 10–20 cm depth) of Pinus radiata plantations in two trials on a nitrogen-deficient coastal sand. The trials comprised (a) stands of different age (1 to 33 years), with five of the seven stands studied being second rotation, and (b) a harvest-management trial, with stands established after different harvesting treatments of the first-rotation trees and understorey development controlled by manual weeding and chemical sprays. The harvest-management stands were sampled in the fifth year after the second-rotation establishment.In the stands of different age, the levels of microbial biomass C and N, and also mineralizable-N, in the litter and mineral soil showed no relationship with tree age and were similar to those in the oldest (33 years) stands of P. radiata. In the harvesting trial, five years after establishment of the second rotation, levels of microbial N and mineralizable-N in the litter and mineral soil were generally lowest where whole trees and the original forest floor had been removed; they were higher in associated plots in which the original forest floor had been removed but fertilizer N was regularly applied. No marked differences were then found between the other harvest treatments, viz. whole-tree harvest, stem-only harvest with slash remaining on site, and stem-only harvest plus extra added slash materials. In each trial, levels of microbial C and N and mineralizable-N were closely related to total C, and especially total N, in 0–10 cm depth mineral soil, but not generally in litter. Respiratory measurements strongly suggest that the microbial populations in mineral soil had a high metabolic activity.On an area basis in the harvest-management trial, total tree N and microbial N in the litter and mineral soil were lowest in stands where the original forest floor had been removed. In this particular treatment, microbial N in the litter plus mineral soil (0–20 cm depth) after five years of second-rotation growth comprised 7.3% of the total ecosystem N; values in the other treatments ranged between 5.6 and 6.0%.Our results emphasise the importance of slash and litter, and probably volunteer shrubs and herbaceous under-storey species, in conserving pools of potentially available N during the early stages of tree development.     

A quantitative study of the forest floor biomass,litter fall and nutrient return in a Pinus roxburghii forest in Kumaun Himalaya

The present paper reports on the forest floor biomass, litter fall, nutrient return and turnover of organic matter in a Pinus roxburghii forest in Kumaun Himalaya. Peak values of fresh leaf litter, partially decomposed litter and wood litter on the forest floor occurred in April, May and September, respectively. The relative contribution of partially decomposed material to total forest floor biomass remained greatest throughout the annual cycle. The biomass of herbaceous vegetation was maximal in September with a total annual net production of 151 g m^-2. The total annual litter fall was 895 g m^-2, of which tree, shrub and herb litters accounted for 82.4%, 0.6%, and 16.8%, respectively. Annual nutrient return in kg ha^-1 through litter fall amounted to 278.6 ash, 73.9 N, 5.5 P, 79.7 Ca, 15.1Mg, 20.7 K and 3.6Na. The turnover rate for tree litter was 48% and that for various nutrients on the forest floor ranged between 40–79%.     

Structure and function of shisham forests in central Himalaya,India: nutrient dynamics

The structure and function of Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) forests were investigated in relation to nutrient dynamics in 5- to 15-year-old stands growing in central Himalaya. Nutrient concentrations and storage in different layers of vegetation were in the order: tree > shrub > herb. Forest soil, litter and vegetation accounted for 80.1-91.9, 1.0-1.5 and 7.0-18.4%, respectively, of the total nutrients in the system. There were considerable reductions (trees 32.8-43.1; shrubs 26.2-32.4; and herbs 18-8-22-2%) in nutrient concentrations of leaves during senescence. Nutrient uptake by the vegetation as a whole and also by the different components, with and without adjustment for internal recycling, was investigated. Annual transfer of litter nutrients to the soil from vegetation was 74.8-108.4 kg ha(-1) year(-1) N, 56.8-4 kg ha(-1) year(-1) P and 38.7-46.9 kg ha(-1) year(-1) K. Turnover rate and time for different nutrients ranged between 56 and 66 % year(-1) and 1.5 and 1.8 years, respectively. The turnover rate of litter indicates that over 50% of nutrients in litter on the forest floor are released, which ultimately enhances the productivity of the forest stand. The nutrient use efficiency in Shisham forests ranged from 136 to 143 kg ha(-1) year(-1) for N, 1,441 to 1,570 kg ha(-1) year(-1) for P and 305 to 311 kg ha(-1) year(-1) for K. Compared with natural oak forest (265 kg ha(-1) year(-1) and an exotic eucalypt plantation (18 kg ha(-1) year(-1), a higher proportion of nutrients was retranslocated in Shisham forests, largely because of higher leaf tissue nutrient concentrations. This indicates a lower nutrient use efficiency of Shisham compared with eucalypt and oak. Compartment models for nutrient dynamics have been developed to represent the distribution of nutrients pools and net annual fluxes within the system.     

A Flood Plain Palm Forest in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico Five Years After Hurricane Hugo1

Long-term studies are needed to understand the dynamics of tropical forests, particularly those subject to periodic disturbances such as hurricanes. We studied a flood plain Prestoea montana palm forest in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico over a 15-yr period (1980–1995), which included the passage of Hurricane Hugo in September 1989. The passage of the hurricane caused the dominant species to become more dominant and created low instantaneous tree mortality (1% of stems) and reductions in tree biomass (-16 Mg/ha/yr) and density, although not in basal area. Five years after the hurricane, the palm flood plain forest had exceeded its prehurricane aboveground tree biomass, tree density, and basal area. Aboveground tree biomass accumulated at a rate of 9.2 Mg/ha/yr, 76 percent of which was due to palms. Before the hurricane this rate was on the order of 3 Mg/ha/yr. Forest floor litter decreased to prehurricane levels (6.7 Mg/ha), within 5 yr, mostly due to the disappearance of woody litter. Thirteen tree species not represented in the canopy entered the forest by regeneration, and 2 species suffered almost 20 percent/yr mortality over a 5-yr period after the storm (floodplain average of 2%/yr). Delayed tree mortality was twice as high as instantaneous tree mortality after the storm and affected dicotyledonous trees more than it did palms. Regencration of dicotyledonous trees, palms, and tree ferns was influenced by a combination of factors including hydroperiod, light, and space. Redundancy Data Analysis showed that the area near the river channel was the most favorable for plant regeneration. Palm regeneration was higher in locations with longer hydroperiods, while regeneration of dicotyledonous trees was higher in areas with low risk of flooding. This study shows how a periodic disturbance provides long-term opportunities for species invasions and long-term ecosystem response at the patch scale of < 1 ha.     

Allometry and biomass of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) in central Korea

Aboveground tree biomass of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc.) was determined for a natural forest of Korean pine and mixed deciduous trees and seven age classes of plantation forests in central Korea. Regression analyses of the dry weights of stem wood, stem bark, branches, and needles versus diameter at breast height were used to calculate regression equations of the form of log Y = a + b log X. Biomass of Korean pine in the mixed forest was 118 Mg ha(-1), and biomass in the plantations was linearly related to stand age, ranging from 52.3 Mg ha(-1) in 11 to 20-year-old stands to 317.9 Mg ha(-1) in 71 to 80-year-old stands. The proportions of stem wood and stem bark in the total aboveground biomass decreased with stand age while those of branch and needle increased. Specific leaf area of Korean pine ranging from 35.2 to 52.1 cm2 g(-1) was significantly different among crown positions and needle ages; in general, lower crown position and current needles had the greatest surface area per unit dry weight.     

Forest Structure and Biomass of a Tropical Seasonal Rain Forest in Xishuangbanna,Southwest China1

Xishuangbanna is a region located at the northern edge of tropical Asia. Biomass estimates of its tropical rain forest have not been published in English literature. We estimated forest biomass and its allocation patterns in five 0.185–1.0 ha plots in tropical seasonal rain forests of Xishuangbanna. Forest biomass ranged from 362.1 to 692.6 Mg/ha. Biomass of trees with diameter at 1.3 m breast height (DBH) ≥ 5 cm accounted for 98.2 percent of the rain forest biomass, followed by shrubs (0.9%), woody lianas (0.8%), and herbs (0.2%). Biomass allocation to different tree components was 68.4–70.0 percent to stems, 19.8–21.8 percent to roots, 7.4–10.6 percent to branches, and 0.7–1.3 percent to leaves. Biomass allocation to the tree sublayers was 55.3–62.2 percent to the A layer (upper layer), 30.6–37.1 percent to the B layer (middle), and 2.7–7.6 percent to the C layer (lower). Biomass of Pometia tomentosa, a dominant species, accounted for 19.7–21.1 percent of the total tree biomass. The average density of large trees (DBH ≥100 cm) was 9.4 stems/ha on two small plots and 3.5 stems/ha on two large plots, illustrating the potential to overestimate biomass on a landscape scale if only small plots are sampled. Biomass estimations are similar to typical tropical rain forests in Southeast Asia and the Neotropics.     

云南松林的生物量研究

本文研究了云南省易门县海拔1600—1700m的云南松中幼龄林分的生物量。云南松林的生物量随林龄的增加而增加。4年生林分的总生物量为9.985吨/公顷,11年生林分为27.874吨/公顷,23年生林分为69.852吨/公顷。乔木层的器官生物量分配比例随林龄而变化。针叶和树皮的分配比例随林龄的增加而迅速下降;干材和根的比例则不断上升,其中以干材增加最快;树枝的分配比例以11年生林分最大,23年生林分次之,4年生林分最小。     

Growth, biomass yield and biomass functions for plantation-grown Nauclea diderrichii (de wild) in the humid tropical rainforest zone of south-western Nigeria

Adequate management of forest plantation requires estimation of growth and biomass yield and consequently, the fitting of functions for estimating biomass. Growth, biomass yield and biomass functions for estimating biomass of Nauclea diderrichii plantations in Omo forest reserve, Nigeria are described. Data were obtained from 30 temporary sample plots selected from stands that are 5-30 years old. A total of 81 trees were harvested for biomass estimation. Mean tree diameter at breast height (dbh), total height and stand bole volume ranged from 9.6 to 29.3 cm; 9.0 to 23.6m and 23.27 to 535.52 m(3)ha(-1), respectively while Total Above Ground Biomass (TAGB) varied from 32.5 t ha(-1) to 287.5 t ha(-1) between 5 and 30 years. Biomass allocations to stem, branch and foliage were 84.5%, 13.5% and 3%, respectively. All biomass components could be described precisely by dbh alone (R(adj)(2)>0.97), with very low standard errors of estimates. Little improvement in the precision of the functions was achieved by including total height. In addition, the residuals of regression functions with only dbh were generally more constrained than those that included total height. Consequently, the functions with dbh alone and its derivative as independent variables were recommended for estimating biomass of opepe in Nigeria.     

Litter production and forest floor nutrient dynamics in pine and hardwood stands of New Brunswick, Canada

Biomass and nutrient transfer (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) of overstory (branches and leaves) and understory litter fall were examined over a two year period in four jack pine stands aged 16, 29, 49 and 57 years and four mixed hardwood stands aged 7, 17, 20 and 29 years. Relative amounts of the five nutrients in litter fall for both series of stands were N > K ≷ Ca > P = Mg. Return of mineral elements to the forest floor was generally twice as high on the hardwood stands as for similarly aged pine stands. Overall return of nutrients plotted versus stand age generally exhibited a plateau relationship, with relatively little difference among stands; however, some exceptions occurred. Understory contribution to litter fall was very important on these stands, since in most cases the nutrient mass in understory litter was usually similar to or higher than that from the tree layer. Data on forest floor biomass, nutrient distribution and turnover rates of these stands were also presented; mobility of nutrients in the forest floor was in the order K > Mg ≥ P ≥ Ca ≥ N.     

四川红杉人工林分生物量和生产力的研究

本文对卧龙自然保护区60年代人工栽培的四川红杉林分生物量和生产力进行了测定和研究。按“径阶标准木法”和“样方收割法”分别调查了乔木层、灌木层、草本地被层和枯枝落叶层。据调查数据,应用“相对生长法则”建立了估测乔木层单株木各器官干重的回归方程,相关系数均达到极显著水平。文中还研究了林分平均净生产量和产量结构。结果表明：四川红杉人工林分生物量平均为135.17t／ha,净生产量为10820.52kg／ha·a,其中乔木层生物量为113.57t／ha,占林分生物量的84.02%,净生产量为8951.63kg／ha·a,占林分净生产量的82.73%。林分中灌木层、草本层的生物量和净生产量分别占林分生物量和净生产量的1.01%和3.16%、4.44%和13.86%。枯枝落叶层现存量为14.23t／ha,占林分的10.53%,林分年凋落物量和枯损物量为3996.14kg／ha·a,占林分生产力的36.93%。     

Pattern of carbon allocation across three different stages of stand development of a Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) forest

The pattern of carbon (C) allocation across different stages of stand development of Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) forests is poorly documented. In order to understand the effects of stand age on the C pool of the Chinese pine forest ecosystem, we have examined the above- and belowground C pools in three differently aged stands of Chinese pine in the northern mountains of Beijing, China, by plot-level inventories and destructive sampling. Our results suggest that tree branch and foliage biomass should be estimated by age-specific equations. Reasonably accurate estimates of tree stem, tree root, aboveground, and total tree biomass in a Chinese pine forest at different development stages were obtained using age-independent allometric equations from tree diameter only. The ratio of belowground to aboveground tree biomass was relatively constant with stand aging, remaining around 21?%. The contribution of aboveground tree biomass C increased from 21?% of the total ecosystem C in a 25-year-old stand to 44?% in a 65-year-old stand, subsequently falling to 41?% in a 105-year-old stand, while the contribution of mineral soil C decreased from 64?% of the total ecosystem C in 25-year-old stand to 38?% in a 65-year-old stand, subsequently increasing to 41?% in a 105-year-old stand. The C stock of the total ecosystem and its aboveground tree, tree root, forest floor, and mineral soil components continuously increased with stand ageing, whereas the C stock of the understory showed a declining trend and contributed little to the total site C pool.     

The Structure and Function of Pine Forest in Central Himalaya. I. Dry Matter Dynamics

The present study deals with structure and function of fourareas of Himalayan chir pine forest. Tree layer was monospecificon all sites with varied density and basal cover in the rangeof 540–1630 individuals per ha and 25·0–47·2m²ha^–1, respectively. Shrubs having low density were sparselydistributed. All allometric equations relating to biomass ofdifferent components, to circumference at breast height (cbh)were significant, with the exception of that for cone biomass.Total vegetation biomass (115–236 t ha^–1) was distributedas 113–283 t ha^–1 in trees. 0·56–0·82t ha^–1 in shrubs and 1·63–2·57 t ha^–1in herbs. Total forest floor biomass including herbaceous litterranged between 9·6 and 13·6 t ha^–1. Of thetotal annual litter fall (4·26–7·38 t ha^–1),60·3–75·1 per cent was distributed in leaflitter and 24·9–39·7 per cent in wood litter.Turnover rate of tree litter varied from 0·45 to 0·53,whereas rates for shrubs and herbs were assumed to 1. Net primaryproduction of total vegetation ranged between 9·91 and21·2 t ha^–1 year^–1, of which the contributionof trees, shrubs and herbs was 76·5– 88·1per cent 0·6–1·8 per cent and 11·3–21·5per cent, respectively. A compartment model of dry matter onthe basis of mean data across sites was developed to show drymatter storage and flow of dry matter within the ecosystem. Pinus roxburghii forest, biomass, litter fall, net primary production, compartmental transfer     

Litter fall and nutrient cycling in karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor F. Muell.) forest in relation to stand age

Annual litter fall, nutrient concentrations in litter components and annual weight of nutrients in litter fall have been estimated for karri forest stands aged 2, 6, 9 and 40 years and in mature forest. The weight of litter falling annually increases with stand age, ranging from 1.13 t/ha in 2-year-otd regeneration to 9.45 t/ha in mature forest. This increase is due mainly to greater amounts of twigs, bark and fruit falling in older stands. Leaf fait is relatively independent of stand age once the canopy of regenerating stands closes and the understorey has developed. Concentrations of N, P, K, S and Mn in karri leaf litter differ significantly between sites and the differences appear to be related to stand age. Highest levels of these elements are found in karri leaf litter from the youngest stand and the concentrations decrease with increasing stand age. The amounts of annual litter fall and of nutrients cycling in litter are among the largest reported for Australian forests. In particular cycling of Ca, K and Mg in mature karri forest is greater than has been reported for any other eucalypt forest. Karri forest understorey plays a key rote in nutrient cycling in these ecosystems, contributing 30–70% of the weight of many of the nutrients in the leaf component of titter. Understorey leaf material is particularly important in the cycling of N, S and the micro-nutrients Cu and Zn.