Abstract
The decomposition rate of the leaves of Alnus acuminata H.B.K. spp. acuminata was studied during a two year period using litter bag procedure. The experiment was performed in three different aged forest (5-10, 20-25 and 40-45 years) stands located in San Javier hills (province of Tucuman, Argentine). A regression between the remanent percentage of dry matter versus the time was made, adjusting the curve to a exponential model. The pattern of decomposition showed the more important losses of weight during the first 30 days, decreasing the rate of decomposition later on. Highly significant differences were observed between the 20-25 years old forest against the two others. The lowest rates of decomposition in the young forest could be atributed to the low substrate cover, whereas in the old forest could be by the low pH of the soil epipedon which decreases during the succession. Decomposition rates are similar or little slow to those obtained by other authors working on the same genera.
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