Impact of stand characteristics on litterfall production and its decomposition in chir pine mixed Banj Oak forests in the Central Himalaya

Abstract

Litterfall and its decomposition is a fundamental process that regulates the nutrient cycle in the forest ecosystems. This study was conducted in four chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) mixed banj oak (Quercus leucotrichophora) forests in the central Himalaya. Ten 50×50 cm litter traps were randomly placed in each site to collect the litterfall on monthly basis. Litter packets of 10×10 cm were kept randomly in each site to measure the decomposition rate of banj oak and chir pine leaf litter. The litterfall was found maximum in summer season followed by rainy and winter in all the sites. The values were found to be increasing with the stand characteristics and found highest in Hathikhan B (3.85 Mg ha−1) and lowest in Toli (1.73 Mg ha−1). Leaf litter percentage decreased with increasing stand characteristics whereas wood litter followed the opposite pattern. Litter decomposition was found faster in banj oak leaf litter than chir pine leaf litter. Decay constant was also found higher for banj oak whereas half-life was greater for chir pine leaf litter. Decomposition rate was unaffected by stand characteristics indicating that stand density and basal area do not affect the degradation process. Thus stand characteristics is a good indicator for litterfall production for a chir pine mixed banj oak forest.