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Leaf litterfall and decomposition of different above- and belowground parts of birch (Betula ermanii) trees and dwarf bamboo (Sasa kurilensis) shrubs in a young secondary forest in Northern Japan

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Abstract

In many Japanese forests, the forest understory is largely dominated by dwarf bamboo (Sasa) species, which compete with overstory vegetation for soil nutrients. We studied the rate of leaf litterfall, and decomposition and mineralization of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) from various components (leaf, root, wood, and rhizome) of overstory and understory vegetation in a young Betula ermanii forest from 2002 to 2004. Total litterfall was 377 g m−2 year−1, of which the overstory vegetation contributed about two thirds. A litter decomposition experiment conducted for 770 days indicated that mass loss of different litter components varied significantly, except for Sasa kurilensis wood and rhizome. Relative decomposition rates were significantly greater in the first growth period (June to October) than the dormant period (November to May) in most cases. Rainfall was the most important abiotic variable, explaining 75–80% of the variability in mass loss rates. Concentrations of ethanol soluble substances and N were significantly positively correlated (r=0.77 to 0.97, P<0.05) with mass loss at an early stage (41 days). The ratios of lignin/N and C/N were found to be negatively correlated with mass loss rates at all stages of litter decomposition. C stock loss was similar to that of mass loss, whereas N stock loss was slower, except for S. kurilensis fine root litter. The evergreen understory species S. kurilensis exhibited greater N use efficiency than B. ermanii, suggesting better competitive ability that might favor the production of a high biomass and invasion under tree species like B. ermanii.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Keita Arakawa for providing laboratory facilities and Dr. Meghraj Bhandari for helping with analysis. We also thank the staff of Uryu Experimental Forest of Hokkaido University for their support in the field. The Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University and JSPS authorities are thankfully acknowledged for providing financial support as part of a project entitled “Interaction through soil resource utilization between trees and undergrowth Sasa species in sub-boreal forests in Japan”. This research was also supported by CREST of JST (Japan Science and Technology Agency), under “Parameterization of the Relationships between the Water Cycle System and Plant Eco-physiological Properties in Boreal Forest Areas (R & D of Hydrological Modeling and Water Resources)”. SKT is thankful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, for granting leave to carry out this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India

    S. K. Tripathi

  2. The Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0819, Japan

    S. K. Tripathi, A. Sumida, K. Ono, Y. Kodama & T. Hara

  3. Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Nayoro, 096-0071, Japan

    H. Shibata & S. Uemura

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  1. S. K. Tripathi
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  2. A. Sumida
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  3. H. Shibata
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Correspondence to S. K. Tripathi.

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Tripathi, S.K., Sumida, A., Shibata, H. et al. Leaf litterfall and decomposition of different above- and belowground parts of birch (Betula ermanii) trees and dwarf bamboo (Sasa kurilensis) shrubs in a young secondary forest in Northern Japan. Biol Fertil Soils 43, 237–246 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-006-0100-y

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