Changes in the Amounts of Dry Matter, Nitrogen, Carbon and Energy in Decomposing Woodland Leaf Litter in Relation to the Activities of the Soil Fauna

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Abstract
Leaf litter of 26 species of trees, shrubs and woodland herbs, enclosed in coarse mesh nylon net bags, disappeared more rapidly on a soil with a mull humus form than on a soil with moder humus because large invertebrates such as earthworms and millipedes were able to feed on it. In the first 5 months of decomposition they removed at least 40% of the ash (Fraxinus excelsior) litter on the mull site and 10% on the moder site. The percentage carbon and energy contents of the litters changed only slightly in the first year after leaf-fall. The percentage nitrogen content increased more on the mull than on the moder site. The absolute amount of N in most litters decreased but in several litters on the moder site it increased. In litter of Quercus petracea the main difference between the N increases on the two sites occurred in the spring and early summer months.

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