Base cation fluxes and release by needle litter in three adjacent coniferous plantations

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate base cation (K, Ca, Mg) fluxes and release by needle litter in three adjacent coniferous plantations (larch: Larix leptolepis; red pine: Pinus densiflora, rigitaeda pine: P. rigita × taeda) planted in the same year (1963) in the Sambong Exhibition Forests, Korea. Needle litter was collected monthly from July 2006 to June 2008 and litter decomposition rates were measured from December 2006 to June 2008. The concentrations and fluxes of K and Mg were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the larch than in both pine plantations. The differences in K and Mg fluxes in needle litter were attributed to low nutrient concentrations of pine needle litter compared with larch needle litter, while the highest fluxes of Ca in the red pine plantation were due to high concentration and inputs of needle litter compared with other two coniferous plantations. Potassium and Mg concentrations (mg g−1) and remaining (mg bag−1) from needle litter during the decomposition processes were higher in the larch than in both pine plantations, while Ca concentration and remaining were significantly lower in the rigiteada than in the larch or red pine plantations. These results demonstrate that base cation cycling processes can be varied considerably after plantation establishment by the characteristics of needle litter fluxes and nutrient release among tree species types.