Litterfall production and nutrient return in different-aged Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantations in South China

Abstract

The amounts of litter produced and nutrients returned play a fundamental role in the productivity and biogeochemical and nutrient cycling of forest ecosystems. We monitored annual litterfall production, nutrient return, and monthly dynamics over a one-year period in Chinese fir plantations aged 10, 22, and 34 years. Our objective was to quantify litterfall and nutrient return over a complete harvest rotation of Chinese fir. Annual litterfall production increased with stand age and was recorded as (3,294.6 ± 360.4), (3,733.9 ± 211.2), and (4,876.1 ± 212.8) kg ha−1 a−1 in stands aged 10, 22 and 34 years, respectively. Total litter production was significantly greater in the stand aged 34 years than in the stand aged 10 years (p N (39.32–62.04 kg ha−1 a−1) > K (15.95–22.44 kg ha−1 a−1) > P (1.30–1.63 kg ha−1 a−1). C, N, K and P input to soil was significantly lower in the 10-year-old stand in comparison to the 22- and 34-year-old stands (p < 0.05). Litterfall production and nutrient return (C, N and K) followed similar patterns, and C and N input to soil was significantly related to litterfall production (needle, branch and total litterfall). C, N, P and K input to soil and total litterfall production were mainly driven by needle litterfall.