Input, accumulation and turnover of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus in surface organic layers of an upper montane rainforest in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Summary Small litterfall was collected monthly for 3 years from traps in an upper montane rainforest at Hakgala in Sri Lanka. The range of mean total litterfall was 6.6–8.7 Mg ha −1 yr −1 of which 77–83% was leaf litter. The inputs of N and P in litterfall were 111.7 and 5.4 kg ha −1 yr −1 , respectively. The mean accumulation of litter on the forest floor was 10.16 Mg ha −1 of which 72% was woody litter. The turnover time of total fine litter was 1.3 years while that of N and P was 1.0 and 0.7 years, respectively, indicating high nutrient circulation. There was low stand use efficiency for N and P (69 and 1437, respectively). Brief comparison is made of the data from this tropical montane forest with other tropical montane forests.