Relationships between functional traits and litterfall nutrient return characteristics across 21 tree species in subtropical plantations

• Published in: Ying yong sheng tai xue bao Vol. 35; no. 6; p. 1455
• Main Authors: Lin, Xiao-Yu, Wan, Xiao-Hua, Jia, Hui, Huang, Zhi-Qun, Zou, Bing-Zhang, Wang, Si-Rong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China 01.06.2024
• Subjects: Carbon - analysis; Carbon - metabolism; China; Ecosystem; Forests; Nitrogen - analysis; Nitrogen - metabolism; Nutrients - analysis; Nutrients - metabolism; Phosphorus - analysis; Phosphorus - metabolism; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant Leaves - growth & development; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Plant Roots - growth & development; Plant Roots - metabolism; Soil - chemistry; Trees - growth & development; Trees - metabolism; Tropical Climate; China; functional trait; soil fertility; nutrient return; plantation; litterfall
• ISSN: 1001-9332
• DOI: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.202406.006

The contribution of litterfall nutrient return to the maintenance of soil carbon pool and nutrient cycling is a crucial aspect of forest ecosystem functioning. Taking 21 tree species in subtropical young plantations as subjects, we investigated the correlation between litterfall nutrient return characteristics and functional traits of leaf and root and. The results showed notable variations in litterfall production, standing crop, and nutrient return across all the examined tree species. exhibited the highest litterfall production (689.2 g·m ·a ) and standing crop (605.1 g·m ), while demonstrated the lowest litterfall production (36.0 g·m ·a ) and standing crop (10.0 g·m ). The nitrogen and phosphorus return amounts of 21 species ranged from 3.0 to 48.3 kg·hm and from 0.1 to 2.0 kg·hm , respectively. demonstrated the highest nitrogen return, while exhibited the highest phosphorus return. had the lowest nitrogen and phosphorus return. Results of the stepwise regression analysis indicated that litterfall produc