• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.33-43
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• 1997

The production and decomposition rate of litters of major forest trees in Korea, such as Quercus acutissima, Quercus mogolica Robinia pseudoacacia Pinus rigida, Pinus thunbergiana, Abies koreana,Phy'llostackys reticulata, were estimated by Olson model. The amount of mineral nutrients in litters and soil were measured, and the relationships among them were studied. The annual litter production was the most in the forest of broadleaved deciduous trees and the least in the forest of monocotyledonous trees. The decomposition rate of broadleaved deciduous litters was higher than that of coniferous litters and lower than that of R. pseudoacacia litters. The time required for the decomposition of half of the accumulated organic matter of R.pseudoacacia litter, Quercus litter, P. rigida litter, Ph. reticulata litter, P. thunbergiana litter and .4.koreana litter in the forest stands were 1.263 years, 2.290~2.365 years, 2.644 years, 4.660 years,4.750 years, 6.699 years respectively. The amounts of N in litters and the amounts of N returned to the soil in the forests of R. pseudoacacia. Quercus, Pinus were proportional to the decay rate of organic matter. Key words: Annual litter production, Decomposition rate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.1598-1603
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• 2000

Broiler litter can be used as a feedstuff for ruminants. Fifty seven litter samples collected from 47 farms in Kyungkee Province of Korea were analyzed to assess the effects of type and amount of bedding (rice hulls vs. sawdust), season (winter vs. summer) and drinkers (bell- vs. trough-type) on composition of broiler litter. Rearing conditions of broilers were also surveyed from the farms to estimate annual production rate of litter. Nutrient composition of broiler litter varied widely and moisture and ash concentrations were higher than observed by other researchers. Ash concentration was higher (p<0.05) for samples taken in winter than in summer and higher (p<0.05) in the rice hulls- than in the sawdust-based litter both in winter and summer. Only minor differences in litter composition were noted between drinkers. Ash was negatively correlated with crude protein and neutral detergent fiber (p<0.01), and acid detergent fiber (p<0.05). The estimated litter production rate was 2.7 kg per bird per flock on a wet basis (60% DM) and the annual production rate was 12.7 kg per bird per yr (60% DM). Therefore, the 42 million broilers per month grown in Korea in 1999 produced a total of 533,400 metric tons of litter.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 1989

Annual production and decomposition of litter were studied in piuns rigida platation in Mt. Kwan-ak. The peak time of litter production was October-November. The litterfalll at that time was 54% of annual litter production. But the peak time of litterfall of reproductive parts was Junejuly. The peak times of litter production in Alnus hirsuta plantation were June-July, and November. It is thought that difference of seasonal distribution of letterfall between two forest types were assigned to litter falling factors such as temperature and insects. Total amount of letter loss increased according to time. Particulary, the peak time of loss rate was July-August. It was shown that the protein and phosphorus were accumulated in the letter for an experimental period. The amount of crude protein increased to 150% of initial amount. The amount of potassium was increased by August and then decreased rapidly. The contents of crude fat, holocellulose, lignin, and Na were decreased slowly. The loss of holocellulose was the largiest among them. Calcium was in steady state. It was thought that this variation pattern was assigned to leaching of soluble parts by high temperature, rainfall and growth rate of microorganisms.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 2012

Litterfall dynamics in forests are assessed by estimating biomass production and decomposition. However, there have been few studies on how litter dynamics impact the health and management of ecosystems. Here, a new approach to measure and assess ecosystem function is presented based on conventional methods using littertraps, litterbags, and the mass on the forest floor. To assess the status of litter dynamics, the decay rate (k) was estimated from a litterbag experiment, and removal rates ($k_i$) were determined from mass balance on the forest floor at 21 sites on three mountains in South Korea. The $k_3$ (organic mass ratio of $O_i$ and $O_e+O_a$ + A horizons in November) values in an equilibrium state in South Korea were within the range of $k{\pm}0.174$ when considering the annual variation of litterfall production. This study also suggests that sampling sites for these types of studies should be in the middle, not at the ends, of steady slopes on the forest floor.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.2
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• pp.183-188
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• 2009

It is necessary to determine the amount of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) absorbed by plants and released from forest floor into atmosphere, to gain a better understanding how forests participate in the global carbon cycle. Soil $CO_2$ efflux, litter production, and decomposition were investigated in Q. variabilis and P. densiflora stands in the vicinity of Gwangju, Chonnam province. Soil $CO_2$ efflux was measured using Infrared Gas Analyzer (IRGA) at midday of the 10th day at every month over 12-month period, to quantify seasonal and annual budgets of soil $CO_2$ efflux. Soil temperature and soil moisture were measured at the same time. Seasonal soil $CO_2$ efflux in Q. variabilis and P. densiflora were the highest in summer season. In August, maximum soil $CO_2$ efflux in Q. variabilis and P. densiflora was 7.49, $4.61CO_2{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, respectively. Annual $CO_2$ efflux in each stand was 1.77, $1.67CO_2kg{\cdot}m^{-2}$ respectively. Soil $CO_2$ efflux increased exponentially with soil temperature and related strongly in Q. variabilis ($r^2$=0.96), and in P. densiflora ($r^2$=0.91). Litter production continued throughout the year, but showed a peak on November and December. Annual litter production in the Q. variabilis and P. densiflora stands were $613.7gdw{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$ and $550.5gdw{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$.$yr^{-1}$, respectively. After 1 year, % remaining mass of Q. variabilis and P. densiflora litter was 48.2, 57.1%, respectively. The soil $CO_2$ efflux rates in this study showed clear seasonal variations. In addition, the temporal variation in the $CO_2$ efflux rates was closely related to the soil temperature fluctuation rather than to variations in the soil moisture content. The range of fluctuation of soil $CO_2$ efflux and litter decomposition rate showed similar seasonal changes. The range of fluctuation of soil $CO_2$ efflux and litter decomposition rate was higher during summer and autumn than spring and winter.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.139-149
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• 1987

Mathematical models of the litter accumulation, decay and turnover in the grassland and forest ecosystems of equilibrium state of the annual litter production were established to analyse the decay rates of organic and inorganic constituents of the litter. Those models were validated by an application to a Phragmites longivalvis grassland in a delta of the River Nakdong. The decay constants of cold-water-soluble fractions, other carbohydrates, hot-water-soluble fractions, cellulose, crude fat, lignin and crude protein in the litter were 0.730, 0.583, 0.555, 0.505, 0.479, 0.331 and 0.310 respectively. The amount of mineral nutrients such as N. P. K. Ca and Mg returned annually to the soil were estimated to 7.09, 1.34, 2.36, 4.37 and 0.79g/m2 respectively.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.143-147
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• 1999

Annual production and redistribution of leaf litter were compared among three distinct understory patches in a temperate hardwood forest dominated by Quercus mongolica, Kalopanax pictus, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum, and Carpinus cordata. Two patches were located on a southwest-facing slope: one with an understory dominated by herbaceous plants (Patch S), and the other covered with evergreen dwarf bamboo, Sasa borealis (patch SS). The third patch was on the opposite slope with an understory dominated by herbaceous plants (Patch N). Annual leaf litterfall was averaged 330 g m$^{-2} yr$^{-2}$ in the three patches from 1994 to 1998. From mid-September 1996 to mid-September 1997, net transport of leaf litter over patch bound-aries was 1,824g m$^{-1}$ from Patch S to SS, 1,465g m$^{-1}$ from Patch S to N, and 886 g m$^{-1}$ from Patch SS to N. The amounts moving downslope out of Patch S, SS, and N were 2,548, 471, and 588g m$^{-1}$, respectively. When a mass balance approach was employed for the data of leaf litter transport, the results were relatively consistent with 216, 631, and 724g m$^{-2}$ of leaf litter stores in Patch S, SS, and N, respectively, in April 1997. This study suggests that leaf litter redistribution is largely regulated by aspect and understory type and exerts a significant effect on carbon processes in the forest ecosystem.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.265-270
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• 2005

In order to investigate the organic carbon distribution, net primary production, annual litter production, organic carbon in litter layer, soil organic carbon and soil respiration were studied in an oak forest, Kongju, Chungnam Province in Korea. Net primary production was estimated to 15.84 ton $C{\cdot}ha^{-1}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$. The amount of carbon allocated to leaf and reproductive organ, branch, stem and root was 1.71, 4.03, 7.34, 2.76 ton $C{\cdot}ha^{-1}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$ respectively. Annual litter production was 5.21 $ton{\cdot}ha^{-1}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$, which amounted to 2.35 ton $C{\cdot}ha^{-1}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$. Average amount of organic carbon in litter layer (L+F) was 6.06 ton C/ha, and that of L layer decreased from winter through summer. Soil organic carbon decreased along the soil depth. Average amount of soil organic carbon in this oak forest was 165.19 ton C/ha. The amount of carbon evolved through soil respiration was 11.24 ton $C{\cdot}ha^{-1}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$. Net amount of 4.60 ton $C{\cdot}ha^{-1}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$ was absorbed from the atmosphere by this oak forest.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.109-118
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• 1987

The production and decomposition rates of litters were studied in three mountains, Mt. Halla, Mt. So-back and Mt. Tae-back. The amounts of N, P, K, Ca and Na in the soils were measured and the relationships between the mineral nutrients and decay rates were reserched, The annual litter production was the most as $1, 077.3g/m^2$ and the least as $248.0g/m^2$ in a stand of Quercus acutissima at 820m of the Mt. So-back and at 1, 350m of the Mt. So-back among the study sites, respectively. The decay rates of litter was the highest as k=0.448 and the lowest as k=0.082 in a stand of Q. acutissima at 820m of the Mt. So-back and at 1, 450m of the Mt. Tae-back at 1, 450m of the Mt. Tae-back among the study sites. The higher altitude was, the slower the decay rates were. The annual contents of mineral nutrient and their amounts inputted into the forest soil were proportional to the decay rate of organic metters.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 1990

The rates of litter production and decomposition of litters from grasslands and forests in Mt. Guryong were studied. The annual litter production of Glycine soja showed the highest value 1950.88 g/$m^2$/yr in the grasslands and that in Quercus acutissima, as 2202.38 g/$m^2$/yr in the forests. The highest decay rate of the grasslands was found in G. soja as k=0.713 and that of the forests was in Salix koreensis as k=0.319. The Z values of k in the grasslands was higher than that in the forests. The shortest half-time of the litter decay in the grasslands was 0.9 years in G. soja and the longest one of the forests was S. koreensis as 2.1 years and the longest of all was Q. mongolica as 5.2 years. In the amount of total nitrogen of litters, G. soja was the highest of the grasslands and S. koreensis was the highest of the forest. The content of the total nitrogen in litters was directly propotional to the decay rates.