Abstract
The effects of tree species on the dynamics of nutrient transformations during leaf-litter decomposition are not well understood in tropical rain forests. To examine differences in the dynamics of C, nutrients, and organic constituents during decomposition among tree species, the leaf-litter decomposition of 15 trees was assessed using a litter-bag method in a lowland tropical rain forest in Sarawak. The dynamics of C was parallel to that of weight loss. The dynamics of nutrients were grouped into three patterns. The dynamics of K was characterized by a high leaching loss in the initial stages, and that of Ca and Mg generally showed a gradual decrease over the course of decomposition. The dynamics of N and P showed highly different patterns with the weight loss, and was characterized by relatively higher remaining mass at the end of the experiment. The variations or exceptions of nutrient dynamics among tree species were considered to be related to the initial concentration of each nutrient. For the dynamics of organic constituents, water-soluble carbohydrates disappeared quickly at the initial stages, and acid-soluble carbohydrates were the second fastest decomposing fraction; the decomposition of acid-insoluble residue (AIS) was the slowest. The release of limiting nutrients (N and P) generally followed the disappearance of AIS, but was independent of the disappearance of AIS when the initial concentrations of these nutrients were very low.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 347-354 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Forest Research |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2004 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Litter decomposition
- Nutrient release
- Organic constituents
- Tropical rain forest
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
Cite this
Leaf-litter decomposition of 15 tree species in a lowland tropical rain forest in Sarawak : Dynamics of carbon, nutrients, and organic constituents. / Hirobe, Muneto; Sabang, John; Bhatta, Balram K.; Takeda, Hiroshi.
In: Journal of Forest Research, Vol. 9, No. 4, 11.2004, p. 347-354.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Leaf-litter decomposition of 15 tree species in a lowland tropical rain forest in Sarawak
T2 - Dynamics of carbon, nutrients, and organic constituents
AU - Hirobe, Muneto
AU - Sabang, John
AU - Bhatta, Balram K.
AU - Takeda, Hiroshi
PY - 2004/11
Y1 - 2004/11
N2 - The effects of tree species on the dynamics of nutrient transformations during leaf-litter decomposition are not well understood in tropical rain forests. To examine differences in the dynamics of C, nutrients, and organic constituents during decomposition among tree species, the leaf-litter decomposition of 15 trees was assessed using a litter-bag method in a lowland tropical rain forest in Sarawak. The dynamics of C was parallel to that of weight loss. The dynamics of nutrients were grouped into three patterns. The dynamics of K was characterized by a high leaching loss in the initial stages, and that of Ca and Mg generally showed a gradual decrease over the course of decomposition. The dynamics of N and P showed highly different patterns with the weight loss, and was characterized by relatively higher remaining mass at the end of the experiment. The variations or exceptions of nutrient dynamics among tree species were considered to be related to the initial concentration of each nutrient. For the dynamics of organic constituents, water-soluble carbohydrates disappeared quickly at the initial stages, and acid-soluble carbohydrates were the second fastest decomposing fraction; the decomposition of acid-insoluble residue (AIS) was the slowest. The release of limiting nutrients (N and P) generally followed the disappearance of AIS, but was independent of the disappearance of AIS when the initial concentrations of these nutrients were very low.
AB - The effects of tree species on the dynamics of nutrient transformations during leaf-litter decomposition are not well understood in tropical rain forests. To examine differences in the dynamics of C, nutrients, and organic constituents during decomposition among tree species, the leaf-litter decomposition of 15 trees was assessed using a litter-bag method in a lowland tropical rain forest in Sarawak. The dynamics of C was parallel to that of weight loss. The dynamics of nutrients were grouped into three patterns. The dynamics of K was characterized by a high leaching loss in the initial stages, and that of Ca and Mg generally showed a gradual decrease over the course of decomposition. The dynamics of N and P showed highly different patterns with the weight loss, and was characterized by relatively higher remaining mass at the end of the experiment. The variations or exceptions of nutrient dynamics among tree species were considered to be related to the initial concentration of each nutrient. For the dynamics of organic constituents, water-soluble carbohydrates disappeared quickly at the initial stages, and acid-soluble carbohydrates were the second fastest decomposing fraction; the decomposition of acid-insoluble residue (AIS) was the slowest. The release of limiting nutrients (N and P) generally followed the disappearance of AIS, but was independent of the disappearance of AIS when the initial concentrations of these nutrients were very low.
KW - Litter decomposition
KW - Nutrient release
KW - Organic constituents
KW - Tropical rain forest
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=15244359430&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=15244359430&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10310-004-0088-9
DO - 10.1007/s10310-004-0088-9
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:15244359430
VL - 9
SP - 347
EP - 354
JO - Journal of Forest Research
JF - Journal of Forest Research
SN - 1341-6979
IS - 4
ER -