Abstract
Production, decomposition, and release of nutrients from leaf and nonleaf litter were investigated in four subalpine forests of North-West Himalaya, India. Total annual litter fall in four communities varied from 2950.00 to 4040.00 kg ha−1and was found significant (CD0.05= 118.2). Decomposition of leaf litter varied from 1.82–3.5% during autumn-winter to 36.14–45.51 during summer rainy season in all stands and percent of mass loss was significantly varied in stands (CD6.00). Similarly, decomposition in nonleaf litter was varied from 0.3–1.1% during autumn-winter to 19.59–30.05% during summer rainy season and was significantly varied irrespective of seasons. However, percent decomposition of leaf litter and the values of decay constant (k) were at par in all stands. Total standing state of nutrients in fresh litter as well as release of total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in due course of decomposition (12 months) was also varying significantly. The rate of nonleaf litter decomposition was significantly positively correlated with air temperature (r=0.63–0.74in all communities). The significant correlation(r=0.85)was observed only inRhododendron-Sorbusforest community (PRS). Study indicates that the air temperature is a major determinant for nonleaf litter decomposition in this region.
Highlights
Subalpine forests represent a transition zone between alpine areas and temperate forest communities [1] and shared floristic components of alpine and lower temperate zone
Observations on litter fall reveal that annual litter fall ranged from 2950 kg ha−1(PAR) to 4040 kg ha−1 (PRS) (CD0.05 = 118.2) independently for leaf litter and nonleaf litter, there were no significant differences
Leaf litter contributed 75–79% of total litter production compared to nonleaf litter in the stands with no significant difference among stands
Summary
Subalpine forests represent a transition zone between alpine areas and temperate forest communities [1] and shared floristic components of alpine and lower temperate zone. Subalpine forests are the habitat specialized with key governing factors such as harsh environmental conditions including low soil and air temperatures, massive snowfall, scanty precipitation, and diurnal variations in the temperatures for ecosystem functioning. Majority of subalpine forests in the Northwestern Himalaya are sensitive to topography, anthropogenic interferences, and abrupt climatic changes [2]. A major part of the annual gain of energy and matter is shed as litter [4] which enters into the decomposition subsystem as dead organic matter or detritus. The organic matter on the forest floor is a major source of energy for heterotrophic organisms and mineral nutrients for plant growth and significantly affects hydrology and ecosystem structure and function [5]. As decomposition of plant litter is central to many ecosystem functions such
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