The kinetics of decomposition of beech leaves (Fagus sylvatica L.) and fir needles (Abies alba) in the forests of M. Taburno (Campania Apennines) were compared in a beech stand and in a beech-fir stand and, within the beech-fir stand, in the Aoo layer and at 1.5 m above the forest floor. Beech leaves decompose at a lower rate in the 1st year but rather faster than fir in later stages of decomposition. N concentration increases linearly with the mass loss of litter. Nitrogen immobilization, expressed as N equivalent (=mg N/g mass loss), is much higher in fir than in beech in the later stages of decomposition; however in the 1st year lower rate of decomposition in beech leaves are related to higher N immobilization compared with fir. -from English summary
Kinetics of litter decomposition and nitrogen dynamics in beech forests of Monte Taburno, Campania Apennines
RUTIGLIANO, Flora Angela;FIORETTO, Antonietta;
1989
Abstract
The kinetics of decomposition of beech leaves (Fagus sylvatica L.) and fir needles (Abies alba) in the forests of M. Taburno (Campania Apennines) were compared in a beech stand and in a beech-fir stand and, within the beech-fir stand, in the Aoo layer and at 1.5 m above the forest floor. Beech leaves decompose at a lower rate in the 1st year but rather faster than fir in later stages of decomposition. N concentration increases linearly with the mass loss of litter. Nitrogen immobilization, expressed as N equivalent (=mg N/g mass loss), is much higher in fir than in beech in the later stages of decomposition; however in the 1st year lower rate of decomposition in beech leaves are related to higher N immobilization compared with fir. -from English summaryI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
