Leaf litter disappearance of hardwood species of southern Québec: Interaction between litter quality and stand type

Abstract

AbstractLeaf litter disappearance rates of ten deciduous broadleaved tree species [American basswood (Tilia americana L.), American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.), bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis [Wang.] K. Koch.), largetooth aspen (Populus grandidentata Michx), red maple (Acer rubrum L.), red oak (Quercus rubra L.), shagbark hickory (Carya ovata [Mill.] K. Koch.), sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), white ash (Fraxinus americana L.) and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton)] were measured in five stands of different species composition in southern Quebec to determine whether the relative disappearance rates associated with earthworm activity, and the litter quality parameters predicting disappearance were constant across all stands. Pure stands of sugar maple and largetooth aspen, and three mixed stands of sugar maple with American basswood, white ash and bitternut hickory were examined. Soil pH, exchangeable Ca and Mg and available N were highest in the basswood stand. Litter disappearance...