Objective: The paper aims to analyze the dynamic characteristics of litter production and nutrient return of the forest ecosystems in subtropical areas, and provide a theoretical basis for the nutrient cycling study i...Objective: The paper aims to analyze the dynamic characteristics of litter production and nutrient return of the forest ecosystems in subtropical areas, and provide a theoretical basis for the nutrient cycling study in southwest Hubei Province and carbon sink function of the whole forest ecosystem. Methods: Three typical forest stands (Chinese fir plantation, Cryptomeria fortunei plantation and evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest) in Golden Mountain Forest Farm in southwest Hubei Province were investigated and monitored continuously for the litter types and productivity and nutrient return. Results: The annual litter productivity of the three forest stands ranged from 161.77 to 396.26 kg·hm<sup>-2</sup>;Litters of branches, leaves and reproductive organs accounted for 14.14% - 20.85%, 33.26% - 78.33%, 7.52% - 42.18% of the total, respectively;The litter productivity and total litter productivity of each composition in the three forest stands show unimodal or bimodal changes over months, and the total litter productivity reached the highest value in January, April and October respectively. For different nutrient contents of the three forest stands, the common feature is C > N. The order of nutrient return amount from greatest to least is evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest, Cryptomeria fortunei plantation and Chinese fir plantation. For different nutrient return amounts, the common feature is C > N, and the nutrient return amounts are 76.51-180.69 kg·hm<sup>-2</sup> and 2.3 - 5.71 kg·hm<sup>-2</sup> respectively. Conclusion: The annual litter productivity and nutrient return amount of the evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest are the highest among the three forest stands. Therefore, protecting the evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest and studying the litter changes of Chinese fir plantation and Cryptomeria fortunei plantation are of far-reaching significance for the development of sustainable forest management in this region and the further improvement of the展开更多
文摘Objective: The paper aims to analyze the dynamic characteristics of litter production and nutrient return of the forest ecosystems in subtropical areas, and provide a theoretical basis for the nutrient cycling study in southwest Hubei Province and carbon sink function of the whole forest ecosystem. Methods: Three typical forest stands (Chinese fir plantation, Cryptomeria fortunei plantation and evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest) in Golden Mountain Forest Farm in southwest Hubei Province were investigated and monitored continuously for the litter types and productivity and nutrient return. Results: The annual litter productivity of the three forest stands ranged from 161.77 to 396.26 kg·hm<sup>-2</sup>;Litters of branches, leaves and reproductive organs accounted for 14.14% - 20.85%, 33.26% - 78.33%, 7.52% - 42.18% of the total, respectively;The litter productivity and total litter productivity of each composition in the three forest stands show unimodal or bimodal changes over months, and the total litter productivity reached the highest value in January, April and October respectively. For different nutrient contents of the three forest stands, the common feature is C > N. The order of nutrient return amount from greatest to least is evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest, Cryptomeria fortunei plantation and Chinese fir plantation. For different nutrient return amounts, the common feature is C > N, and the nutrient return amounts are 76.51-180.69 kg·hm<sup>-2</sup> and 2.3 - 5.71 kg·hm<sup>-2</sup> respectively. Conclusion: The annual litter productivity and nutrient return amount of the evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest are the highest among the three forest stands. Therefore, protecting the evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest and studying the litter changes of Chinese fir plantation and Cryptomeria fortunei plantation are of far-reaching significance for the development of sustainable forest management in this region and the further improvement of the
