• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.330-341
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• 2017

Tropical forests play a key role for functioning of the planet and maintenance of life. These forests support more than half of the world's species, serve as regulators of global and regional climate, act as carbon sinks and provide valuable ecosystem services. Forest floor biomass and litterfall dynamics was measured in different sites influenced by fire in a seasonally dry tropical forest of Bhoramdeo wildlife sanctuary of Chhattisgarh, India. The forest floor biomass was collected randomly placed quadrats while the litterfall measured by placing stone-block lined denuded quadrat technique. The seasonal mean total forest floor biomass across the fire regimes varied from $2.00-3.65t\;ha^{-1}$. The total litterfall of the study sites varied from $4.75-7.56t\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$. Annual turnover of litter varied from 70-74% and the turnover time between 1.35-1.43 years. Monthly pattern of forest floor biomass indicated that partially decayed litter, wood litter and total forest floor were differed significantly. The seasonal variation showed that leaf fall differed significantly in winter season only among the fire regimes while the wood litter was found non significant in all the season. This study shows that significant variation among the site due to the forest fire. Decomposition is one of the ecological processes critical to the functioning of forest ecosystems. The decomposing wood serves as a saving account of nutrients and organic materials in the forest floor. Across the site, high fire zone was facing much of the deleterious effects on forest floor biomass and litter production. Control on such type of wildfire and anthropogenic ignition could allow the natural recovery processes to enhance biological diversity. Chronic disturbances do not provide time for ecosystem recovery; it needs to be reduced for ecosystem health and maintaining of the high floral and faunal biodiversity.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2018

The litter production, the nutrient concentration of each component of litterfall, and the amounts of nutrient into the forest floor via litterfall were assessed for 5 years from January 2009 through December 2013 in a Pinus densiflora forest in Mt. Worak National Park. The average amounts of leaf litter, branch and bark, reproductive organs(flowers and cones), and miscellaneous categories for 5 years were $1.940{\pm}0.21$, $0.505{\pm}0.15$, $0.259{\pm}0.09$, and $0.737{\pm}0.14t\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$, respectively. The average percentage of leaf litter, branch and bark, reproductive organs and miscellaneous categories for 5 years were 56.4, 14.7, 7.5, and 21.4%, respectively. The amounts of total litterfall in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 were 2.810, 3.796, 3.268, 3.284, and $4.045ton\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$, respectively. The average amounts of litterfall for 5 years were $3.441{\pm}0.4ton\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$. The average amounts of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg returned to the forest floor via litterfall for 5 years in this Pinus densiflora forest were $22.73{\pm}4.92$, $1.05{\pm}0.42$, $4.26{\pm}1.69$, $8.48{\pm}4.62$, and $2.42{\pm}1.01kg\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$, respectively.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.585-591
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• 2006

We measured the litterfall quantity and investigated the nutrient dynamics in decomposing litter for three years at the LTER sites installed in a deciduous broadleaf natural forest in Mt. Gyebangsan, South Korea. Litterfall production was significantly different among the sampling dates, whereas it was not significantly different among the years. The total annual mean litterfall production for three years was 6,593 kg $ha^{-1}$ $yr^{-1}$ and leaf litter accounted for 82.6% of the litterfall. The leaf litter quantity was highest in Quercus mongolia, followed by leaf of other species, Betula schmidtii, Kaplopanax pictus, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum, etc., which are dominant tree species in the site. The mass loss from the decomposition of leaf litter was fastest in Cortinus controversa (100%), followed by A. preudo-sieboldianum, K. pictus, and B. schmidtii. 100% of litter for C. controversa, 96.1% for A. pseudo-sieboldianum, 92.8% for K. pictus decomposed, while 66.2% of litter for Q. mongolia decayed for 1,003 days. The lower rate of the mass loss in the litter of Q. mongolia may be attributed to the difference in substrate quality, such as lower nutrient concentrations compared with those of other tree species. The concentrations of N, P, and Ca for five litter types increased over time, while the concentrations of K and Mg decreased over time. Compared with the nutrients in the litter of Q. mongolia, the nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) in the litter of other species, C. controversa, A. pseudo-sieboldianum, and K. pictus, were released more rapidly. The results showed that the mass loss and the nutrient dynamics in the litter are variable depending on the tree species even in the same site conditions.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.507-518
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• 1982

Biogeochemistry of a 34-year-old red pine plantation on a Typic Udipsamment was investigated in the central sand plains of Wisconsin Biomass and net primary production were $106Mg\;ha^{-1}$ and $11.0Mg\;ha^{-1}y^{-1}$ respectively. Concentrations of elements in the vegetation were greatest in the 2- to 3-year-old needles, followed by current needles, current twigs, bole bark, live branches, dead branches, bolewood production, and bolewood. For a given tree component (excluding the current twigs), elemental concentrations were greatest in the upper one- third and least in the lower one- third of the tree. Total elements in the vegetation are ranked: N($222kg\;ha^{-1}$), Ca(217), K (85), Mg(38), S(31), and p. The soil contained from 60 to 89% of the readily available P, K, Ca, Mg, and S in the ecosystem. Whereas precipitation was the major source of N and S, weathering supplied the bulk of the Ca, Mg, P, and K. Output of a given element by leaching was less than $7kg\;ha^{-1}y^{-1}$ except for S which was $12kg\;ha^{-1}y^{-1}$ Whereas throughfall returned the greatest amounts of N, K, and S to the forest floor, litterfall accounted for the greatest returns of Ca, Mg, and P. Because of foliar leaching, net loading of all elements studied in the throughfall exceeded that of the precipitation. Ammonium in net precipitation was reduced by a factor of three within the upper 7.5cm due to uptake by fine roots.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2012

This study has compared the different types of forest fire sites and the unburned site at Samcheuk-si Gangwon-do by assessing the amount of litter production, nutrient concentration returned to forest floor from July 2007 through October 2010. The research showed that the average amounts of litterfall produced in the unburned site, the crown fire site(C-1), the crown fire site(C-3) and the ground fire site(G-2) were $7.74{\pm}2.56$, $1.17{\pm}0.67$, $2.97{\pm}0.44$ and $2.92{\pm}0.42ton{\cdot}ha^{-1}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$, respectively. In the unburned site, the average amounts of total nitogen(T-N), total phosphorus(T-P), potassium(K), calcium(Ca) and magnesium(Mg) returned to the forest floor were $22.20{\pm}12.43$, $1.16{\pm}0.46$, $2.68{\pm}1.44$, $16.22{\pm}4.69$ and $1.36{\pm}0.32 kg{\cdot}ha^{-1}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$, respectively whereas those in the crown fire site(C-1) were $3.73{\pm}2.31$, $0.10{\pm}0.09$, $0.27{\pm}0.20$, $2.75{\pm}2.58$ and $0.24{\pm}0.27 kg{\cdot}ha^{-1}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$, respectively. This study showed that the nutrient content returned to forest floor was higher in the following order: unburned site(Un) > crown fire site(C-3) > ground fire site(G-2) > crown fire site(C-1).

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.561-570
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• 2013

Organic carbon distribution and carbon budget of a Pinus densiflora forest in the Songgye valley of Mt. Worak National Park were investigated. Carbon in above and below ground standing biomass, litter layer, and soil organic carbon were measured from May 2011 through April 2012. For the estimation of carbon budget, soil respiration was measured. The amount of carbon allocated to above and below ground biomass was 52.25 and 14.52 ton C $ha^{-1}$. Amount of organic carbon in annual litterfall was 4.71 ton C $ha^{-1}$. Amount of organic carbon within 50cm soil depth was 58.56 ton C $ha^{-1}$ 50cm-$depth^{-1}$. Total amount of organic carbon in this Pinus densiflora forest was estimated to 130.04 ton C $ha^{-1}$. Amount of organic carbon in tree layer, shrub and herb layer was 4.12, 0.10 and 0.04 ton C $ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$ and total amount of organic carbon was 4.26 ton C $ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$. Amount of organic carbon returned to the forest via litterfall was 1.62 ton C $ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$. The amount of carbon evolved through soil respiration was 6.25 ton C $ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$. The amount of carbon evolved through microbial respiration and root respiration was 3.19 and 3.06 ton C $ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$. The amount of organic carbon absorbed from the atmosphere of this Pinus densiflora forest was 1.07 ton C $ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$ when it was estimated from the difference between Net Primary Production and microbial respiration.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2016

Annual litterfall production and leaf area index (LAI, $m^2/m^2$) were estimated using litter traps in Gwangneung, Mt. Taewha and Mt. Gariwang. Annual total litter fall production including branch, bark, others was the highest in Gwangneung($7497.3{\pm}326.5kg/ha/yr$), which had the highest basal area at late successional stage, and followed by Mt. Taewha($5929.1{\pm}225.8kg/ha/yr$) and Mt. Gariwang($3,210.1{\pm}220.1kg/ha/yr$). Mt. Gariwang had the lowest litterfall production due to high elevation and short growing season even with the higher stand density and basal area than Mt. Taewha. Similarly, LAI, which was calculated by multiplying the mass of leaf litter with specific leaf area, was the highest in Gwangneung($5.99{\pm}0.69$) and followed by Mt. Taewha($5.20{\pm}0.24$) and Mt. Gariwang($4.06{\pm}0.42$) and the upper canopy species had the highest leaf area index in every sites (Gwangneung : 4.72, Mt. Taewha : 3.08, Mt. Gariwang : 2.19). However, species specific LAI estimation based on the relationship between basal area and leaf area was limited due to upper canopy species non-proportionality of basal area with LAI. In addition, the comparison between direct and indirect LAI measurement showed the importance of canopy clumping, especially at high density. Our study emphasized the necessity of direct LAI measurement using litter fall traps especially at temperate deciduous forest with diverse species.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.243-252
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• 2016

Comparison of Organic carbon in the Quercus mongolica and Pinus densiflora forest at Mt. Gumgang were investigated. Carbon in above and below ground standing biomass, litter layer, and soil organic carbon were measured from September 2013 through August 2014. For the estimation of carbon cycling, soil respiration was measured. The amount of carbon allocated to above and below ground biomass in Q. mongolica and P. densiflora forest was 115.07/34.36, $28.77/8.59ton\;C\;ha^{-1}$, respectively. Amount of organic carbon in annual litterfall in Q. mongolica and P. densiflora forest was 4.89, $6.02ton\;C\;ha^{-1}$, respectively. Amount of organic carbon within 50cm soil depth was 132.78, $59.72ton\;C\;ha^{-1}$ $50cm-depth^{-1}$, respectively. Total amount of organic carbon in Q. mongolica and P. densiflora forest estimated to 281.52, $108.69ton\;C\;ha^{-1}$, respectively. Amount of organic carbon returned to the forest via litterfall in Q. mongolica and P. densiflora forest was 2.83, $2.20ton\;C\;ha^{-1}$, respectively. The amount of organic carbon absorbed from the atmosphere of this Q. mongolica and P. densiflora forest was 3.90, $0.81ton\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$ respectively. Absorption of organic carbon in Q. mongolica forest was remarkably higher than P. densiflora forest.

• 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.