Abstract

The production and decomposition of litters and nutrient cycling of forests were studied at the pine forests such as Pinus densiflora, Pinus koraiensis, Pinus rigida, Pinus thunbergii, Abies holophylla and Larix kaempfer. The annual litter production of the P. densiflora forest was the most on Mt. Mudeung which was 620.75g/$m^2$ and the least on Mt. Halla which was 155.00g/$m^2$. The decay rate of litters was the highest at the P. densiflora forest on Mt. Mudeung which was k=0.256 and the lowest at the P. densiflora forest on Mt. Halla and A. holophylla on Mt. Jiri which were k=0.099. The half time of decomposition of litters was shortest at the P. densiflora forest on Mt. Mudeung and the longest at the P. densiflora on Mt. Halla and A. holophylla forests on Mt. Jiri. The average decay rate of the L. kaempferi forests which was k=0.204 was the highest and that of the A. holophylla forests which was k=0.122 was the lowest. The decay rate tended to decrease against increasing the altitude. The annual production of litterr, the contents of mineral nutrients and the amounts of mineral nutrients inputted into the forest soil tended to increase in proportion to the decay rate, k.

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