Litter fall transfers of dry matter and nutrients in ponderosa pine stands

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A 34-month study was conducted in an Arizona ponderosa pine (Pinusponderosa Laws.) forest to determine the effect of stand type and silvicultural treatment on rates and components of dry matter and nutrient (C, N, P, S, Ca, Mg, K, and Na) transfers via litter fall. Forest stand conditions (treatments) studied were dense saplings and small poles, large poles, thinned large poles, and clear-cut strips through thinned large poles. Total annual litter fall ( thinned large poles > clear-cut strips. The low concentration of nutrients in fine litter fall, especially N, compared with that of other cold temperate coniferous forests, suggests high N use efficiency for these stands.