Production and decomposition of understorey vegetation of a high altitude oak (Quercus semecarpifolia S.) forest of central Himalaya, India. II. decomposition of understorey vegetation

摘要

Decomposition of leaf litter of shrub and herb species of a Quercus semecarpifolia S. forest of Kumaun Himalaya, India has been studied. Two main shrub species, Viburnum cotinifolium and Berberis asiatica and three main herb species, Senecio rufinervis, Polygonum amplexicaule and Selinum candollii were investigated separately by litter bag method. Leaves of both the shrub species decomposed almost completely in 11 months (330 days), whereas it took only 7 months (210 days) for each of the herb species to decompose completely. The values of annual decomposition constant (K) were in order of Selinum candollii (7.66)> Senecio rufinervis (7.2)> Polygonum amplexicaule (5.42)> Berberis asiatica (4.77)> Viburnum cotinifolium (3.86). Various decay parameters and time required for loss of one half and 95 percent of the original leaf litter dry weight are also given.