Leaching and Decomposition of Litter. III. Experiments on Leaf Litter of Betula verrucosa
- 1 January 1961
- Vol. 12 (2) , 249-+
- https://doi.org/10.2307/3564699
Abstract
Of the total weight of inorganic substances in the litter, 33% was water soluble. The leaching of organic substances increased almost linearly with an increase of the temperature. Less water soluble organic matter was obtainable under aerobic than under anaerobic conditions. The amount of decomposition was greater in the presence of oxygen than in its absence; in both instances, the major portion of the decomposition occurred during the 1st few days. The pH rose during aerobic decomposition and fell during anaerobic decomposition. After 43 days at 25[degree] C aeronic decomposition was about twice as great as anaerobic decomposition. More decomposition occurred in the original litter than the sum of the separate decompositions of the soluble ingredients plus the remaining litter.This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: