中国亚热带4种林分类型凋落叶分解过程中~(13)C NMR波谱特征

【目的】旨在揭示不同结构碳组分在凋落叶分解过程中的作用机制。【方法】以浙江省临安玲珑山毛竹人工林、马尾松天然次生林、杉木人工林和青冈天然次生林凋落叶为研究材料,采用常规化学分析方法与固态13C核磁共振技术探讨其分解过程中的全C和全N含量及不同形态C化合物相对含量的变化。【结果】经12个月的分解,4种林分凋落叶的质量损失率表现为青冈天然次生林(53.80%)马尾松天然次生林(52.69%)杉木人工林(48.31%)毛竹人工林(41.17%);在分解过程中,凋落叶中的N含量逐渐升高,C含量和C/N比逐渐降低,烷氧碳的相对含量显著减少(9.34%~15.48%,P0.05),而芳香碳和羰基碳分别增加25.14%~37.37%和0.75~2.08倍(P0.05);凋落叶中的C含量与凋落叶质量残存率之间,C/N比与凋落叶质量残存率之间均极显著正相关(r=0.901 0~0.984 0,P0.01),而N含量与凋落叶质量残存率极显著负相关(r=-0.921 1~-0.983 1,P0.01),凋落叶中的烷氧碳相对含量与凋落叶质量残存率呈极显著正相关(r=0.808 2~0.962 2,P0.01),芳香碳相对含量与凋落叶质量残存率间、羰基碳相对含量与凋落叶质量残存率间均极显著负相关(r=-0.779 9~-0.936 6,P0.01),除马尾松人工林外,其他林分凋落叶的烷基碳相对含量与凋落叶质量残存率均无显著相关性。【结论】4种林分凋落叶中,青冈天然次生林凋落叶降解最快;在有机碳中,烷氧碳、芳香碳和羰基碳在凋落叶降解过程中起着决定性的作用;13C NMR波谱技术更利于监测凋落叶分解过程中不同结构碳组分的变化,从而更深刻认识凋落叶的分解机制。     

马尾松凋落物C∶N∶P化学计量特征对分解速率的影响

以湖南省森林植物园马尾松林为研究对象,对马尾松凋落物的C、N、P含量及其化学计量特征对分解速率的影响进行研究。经过1年的分解试验,结果表明:马尾松凋落叶的C、N、P含量及C∶N、C∶P、N∶P均高于凋落枝的;凋落枝、凋落叶的分解速率分别为0.709 g/(g·年)和0.756 g/(g·年),凋落枝的分解速率也低于凋落叶的;凋落枝、叶的分解速率与C∶N∶P生态化学计量呈正相关关系。凋落枝的P含量以及C∶N、C∶P、N∶P与凋落叶的差异显著;凋落叶的C含量与凋落枝的C含量呈极显著正相关。     

模拟外源性氮磷对马占相思凋落叶分解及土壤生化特性的影响

[目的]研究外源性氮和磷对马占相思凋落叶的分解速率、分解过程中N、P、K含量和土壤生化特性的影响,以便为森林土壤养分管理提供参考。[方法]以广东省云勇林场马占相思林下凋落叶为试验材料,采用尼龙网袋分解法,设置对照(CK)、施N(10 g·m~(-2))、施P(5 g·m~(-2))、施N+P(N 10 g·m~(-2)+P 5 g·m~(-2))4种处理,每隔3个月取样1次,并测定凋落叶残留量和N、P、K含量。[结果]表明:施N、P和N+P处理对马占相思凋落叶的分解均为促进作用。各处理马占相思凋落叶的N含量在分解过程中大致保持稳定,施P和N+P处理的凋落叶P含量在分解过程中总体呈波动性上升,而各处理的凋落叶K含量变化规律不明显。施N、P和N+P处理提高了马占相思林土壤的有机质和全N含量,促进脲酶、磷酸酶及过氧化氢酶的活性。[结论]施N、P和N+P处理促进了马占相思凋落叶的分解,有利于马占相思林的养分循环。     

闽楠幼林生长与叶片营养元素季节动态特征

为了解闽楠人工幼林生长状况及叶片N、P、K、Ca、Mg含量的季节变化特征,在湖南攸县黄丰桥林场,选取了五块3年生闽楠幼林样地进行了研究。结果表明:闽楠幼林苗高年度增加值为60.8 cm,地径年度增加值为7.35 mm,均表现为7-9月增长量最大。闽楠叶片各月N含量范围为16.84~19.54 g·kg~(-1)、P含量范围为1.28~1.49 g·kg~(-1)、K含量范围为2.56~5.47 g·kg~(-1)、Ca含量范围为7.94~9.92 g·kg~(-1)、Mg含量范围为0.82~1.05 g·kg~(-1),其中N、P、K元素含量均表现为春季最高,冬季最低。各元素含量年均值排序为N(18.13 g·kg~(-1))Ca(8.90 g·kg~(-1))K(4.36 g·kg~(-1))P(1.40 g·kg~(-1))Mg(0.96 g·kg~(-1))。季节变异特征分析结果显示,不同元素平均变异系数排序为K(30.67%)P(13.44%)Mg(9.87%)Ca(9.33%)N(5.89%),说明N、Ca、Mg元素含量的季节变异较小,而K元素的季节变异较大。     

石漠化石灰土与水土保持植物葛藤化学元素含量特征

对贵州花溪区石灰土及水土保持植物葛藤化学元素的含量进行了研究.结果表明:(1)石灰土pH值为7.98,有机质含量为56.60 g·kg-1.全N、全P含量分别为3.56,0.64 g·kg-1,N和P有效率低,速效N仅占全N含量的0.47%.速效P仅占全P的1.46%.全K含量为6.92 g·kg-1.属缺K型土壤.全Ca、全Mg含量分别为15.44、2.74 g·kg-1.(2)微量元素含量依次排序为Fe>Mn>Zn>Ni>Pb>Cu>Co>Cd.全Pb、全Zn、全Cu含量均未超过我国土壤环境质量标准(GB15618-1995)中的3级标准,可以作为林地使用.(3)水土保持植物葛藤体内不同元素含量的差异较大,N、K、Ca元素含量在10 g·kg-1以上,P、Mg元素含量为l～6 g·kg-1,Fe元素在1 000 mg·kg-1以上,Zn、Mn、Pb、Cu元素含量为10～100 mg·kg-1,Cd、Ni元素含量<5 mg·kg-1.(4)葛藤对土壤中N、P、K、Ca、Mg元素的积累能力最强,其次是对Zn、Cd,Cu、Pb元素,而对Mn、Ni、Fe元素的积累能力最弱.研究结果可为石漠化石灰土的植被修复提供理论依据.     

巨桉主要养分元素积累与分布研究

对5a生5种密度巨桉林木器官主要养分元素(N、P、K、Ca、Mg)的含量、林分的养分元素积累量、林分养分元素年净积累量进行了研究.结果表明不同器官的养分元素含量各异,各器官中大量元素以K、Ca的含量最高,其次为N、Mg,最低的为P;单株木养分元素的积累量随林分密度的增大而减少;不同养分元素在单株木的积累量的规律不受密度的影响,依次为Ca＞K＞N＞Mg＞P;5种密度林分养分元素积累总量分别为415.1789,463.8882,477.6992,488.7749,475.2666kg·hm-2·a-1;造林密度宜控制在1665株·hm-2～1860株·hm-2才有利于维持巨桉林分的地力和获得较高的林分生产力.     

龙里林场马尾松人工林凋落物养分归还动态

以贵州省龙里林场3个不同密度的12年生马尾松人工林为研究对象,通过调查测定凋落物归还量、养分归还量等指标,分析凋落物中N、P、K、Ca、Mg、Fe、Mn、Zn、Cu 9种养分的归还、转移、释放变化动态。结果表明:凋落物中9种养分年归还量与密度呈正相关,各林分平均养分年归还量从大到小为N、Ca、Mn、Mg、K、P、Fe、Zn、Cu;各林分养分月归还量变化趋势与月凋落物量变化趋势相似,除Zn为双峰型外其余为单峰型,峰值均出现在11月;马尾松人工林年凋落物量与密度呈正相关,S2167年凋落物量5 208.74 kg/(hm2·a),S1767年凋落物量4 284 kg/(hm2·a),S1200年凋落物量3 113.80 kg/(hm2·a);各林分月凋落物量变化趋势相似,均为单峰型,峰值出现在11月。     

印度西部5种热带干落叶林中凋落物中生物元素和返回到绿叶中的季节性变化(英文)

本文对印度西部5种热带干落叶林中凋落物里生物元素的季节性变化和它们返回到新鲜叶中季节性变化进行研究。对5个树种:阿拉伯金合欢(Acacia nilotica L.)、金合欢(Acacia leucophloea Roxb.)、柚木(Tectonagrandis L.f.)、绒毛野独活(Miliusa tomentosa Roxb.)和紫矿(Butea mono-sperma Lain.)中凋落物的成熟叶、枝和再生部分的N、P、Ca、Mg、K和Na的浓度,以及老叶和幼叶中浓度间的关系进行调查。对这些树种的总干物质进行记录,并分析它们所含的N、P、Ca、Mg、K和Na的含量。其中阿拉伯金合欢叶子中N的含量最高,而金合欢的叶子里Ca和Mg含量最高。叶中含P最多的是阿托伯金合欢、金合欢和紫矿,而含P最少的是柚木和绒毛野独活。K和Na含量在这些树种中没有明显的区别。观察发现,N、P和K的浓度随季节变化大,但Ca和Mg则不然。唯有钾在所有树种中都是最稳定的,吸收N和P可以用于来年新叶的生长。从老叶和凋落物中吸收的营养会支持新叶的生长,并增加土壤的肥力。图1表4参30。     

闽楠人工幼林生态系统营养元素积累与分布特征

闽楠Phoebe bourne是我国亚热带地区的优良乡土阔叶树种,在人工林结构调整上有重要的应用潜力。为将来应用闽楠进行大规模造林或杉木人工纯林改造提供科学依据,对湖南永州金洞林场10年生闽楠人工林生态系统5种营养元素(N、P、K、Ca、Mg)的积累与分布进行了研究,结果表明:闽楠人工林乔木层不同器官养分元素含量以树叶最高(Ca除外),树干最低;各元素含量(g·kg-1)在乔木层的均值表现为K(5.85)N(4.78)Ca(1.35)P(0.76)Mg(0.19),在土壤层(0~60 cm)的均值表现为K(3.47)Ca(2.65)N(1.34)Mg(0.40)P(0.20),乔木层和土壤层中养分元素含量均以K最高;闽楠幼林人工林各器官N∶P表现为树皮(8.87)树叶(8.15)树枝(5.08)树根(4.87)树干(4.44),说明10年生闽楠人工林生长受到N元素的限制;N、P、K、Ca、Mg元素在植被层的积累量均表现为乔木层枯落物层林下植被层;土壤的N、P、Mg元素的储量随土层加深而降低,K、Ca元素的储量随土层加深而增加;闽楠幼林生态系统养分总储量为60.549 t·hm-2,各元素储量(t·hm-2)排序为K(26.051)Ca(19.762)N(10.222)Mg(3.012)P(1.502),土壤层元素储量占森林生态系统总储量的97.20%以上。     

新栽培区尾叶桉人工林营养元素积累与分配特征

对广西田林县2.4和4.4年生尾叶桉人工林的N、P、K、Ca和Mg等5种营养元素含量、积累量、年净积累量与分配进行了研究.结果表明:尾叶桉不同器官营养元素含量大致为树叶>树皮>树枝>树根>树干;林木各器官中营养元素含量以N最高,其次是Ca、K和Mg,P最低;2.4和4.4年生尾叶桉人工林营养元素的积累量分别为321.09和760.39 kg/hm2,不同器官营养元素积累量的分配随林分年龄的增长发生变化;林分营养元素年净积累量分别为133.79和172.82 kg/(hm2.a),积累量随林分年龄的增长而明显增大;同一器官各营养元素年净积累量与其营养元素积累量变化顺序一致,即为N>Ca或K>Mg>P;2个林分年龄尾叶桉人工林每积累1 t干物质需要5种营养元素总量分别为10.01和9.44 kg,其中对N的需求量最大,P最小.     

Ecological studies on subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in Okinawa, Japan: Litter production and nutrient input

Patterns of litterfall and nutrient input in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in northern Okinawa, Japan, were studied during May, 1996–April, 1999. The mean annual rate of litterfall in the five sampling plots ranged from 6.84 to 8.93 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, of which 63.3–68.5% were leaves; 22.4–29.1% woody parts (including branches < 5.0 cm in diameter and bark); 2.8–5.0% sexual organs and 4.6–6.3% miscellaneous material. Significant differences were found among plots and among years. Significantly monthly differences pronounced seasonal patterns in litterfall were observed. Total litterfall and leaf litter showed negative correlations with relative basal area of the dominant species,Castanopsis sieboldii; and showed positive correlations with mean height of the stands. The dominant species,C. sieboldii produced an average of 2.36 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ of leaf litter, which covered 30.5% of the annual litter production, and the nutrient input from those litterfall contributed 32.3, 28.3, 30.2, 22.2, 32.5, and 30.5% of total N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and Na, respectively. Nutrient use efficiency in litter production was high, especially for P and K compared with other broad-leaved forests in Japan indicating that P and K may be limiting in Okinawan evergreen broad-leaved forest.     

Nutrients return from leaves and litterfall in a mediterranean cork oak (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus suber</Emphasis> L.) forest in southwestern Spain

The knowledge of the cycle of nutrients is fundamental for the correct comprehension of the tree–soil relationship and for an adequate forest management. In order to analyse the nutrients return from leaves and litterfall in a Mediterranean cork oak forest in southwestern Spain, 12 trees were randomly selected and litterfall collected for 2 years. Samples were taken monthly and separated in different fractions (leaves, twigs, catkins, acorns and miscellaneous), then leaves nutrients were analyzed. Simultaneously, we analyzed the nutrient content of living leaves from the same trees in each season during 1 year. The analyzed nutrients were C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, S, Cu, Zn and Mo. Annual patterns of each nutrient in fallen leaves were characterized and compared with seasonal values of these nutrients in living leaves. Leaves fall has two annual maximum, first and most important in spring around April coinciding with renewal of foliar cover and second around October. Main concentration patterns of N, P and K are related with phenological patterns, in consequence minimum concentration in leaves fall were obtained in periods of growing and maximum litterfall. Concentrations of Ca, Fe and Mn increase with the age of the leaves and maximum concentrations were obtained before periods of maximum litterfall while concentrations of Cu, Mo and Mg stay stable. Seasonal analysis of nutrients in living leaves collected from the same trees in four different periods of the year allowed to corroborate the patterns of leaves fall and the probable osmotic function of K.     

Leaf litterfall concentrations and fluxes of elements in deciduous tree species

The influence of tree species and soil properties on leaf litterfall concentrations and fluxes of elements were studied in three mixed deciduous forest stands. Leaf litterfall fluxes of sixteen elements were measured during autumn defoliation in 100 to 150 yr old individuals of Fagus sylvatica L., Quercus robur L., Carpinus betulus L., Tilia cordata Mill, and Acer platanoides L. Compared to throughfall and precipitation, leaf litterfall dominated the flux of P, Ca, Mn, N and Mg (in decreasing order) to the soil below the tree canopies. For K and especially S and Na, however, the importance of leaf litterfall input to the total fluxes was small. Fluxes and especially concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, P and partly N were positively related to base saturation of the soil, while Mn was negatively related due to a higher mobilization rate and plant uptake of this element on acid soils. Litterfall fluxes for C. betulus were strongly positively influenced by base saturation and fluxes were usually higher than for F. sylvatica and Q. robur at the richest site. Quercus robur had often the lowest fluxes, especially of Ca and Mg. Tilia cordata had the highest leaf litter concentrations in twelve of the sixteen elements, and the highest fluxes particularly of N and K. Acer platanoides had the highest or among the highest concentrations and fluxes of Ca, Zn and Mn. The concentration of Al in C. betulus leaf litterfall, was about five times higher than in all other tree species at all sites.     

Nutrient return via litterfall in two contrasting Pinus sylvestris forests in the Pyrenees under different thinning intensities

Thinning influence on litterfall chemical composition (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) was studied for 30 months in two contrasting Pinus sylvestris L. stands in the western Pyrenees mountain range (Northern Spain): Aspurz (625 m.a.s.l, high productivity, Mediterranean climate) and Garde (1335 m.a.s.l, low productivity, continental climate). Two different thinning intensities were carried out by removing 20% and 30% of pre-thinning basal area. In accordance with site quality differences between sites N, K, Ca and Mg total soil returns via litterfall were significantly higher in Aspurz than in Garde. However, P, K, Ca and Mg concentrations were higher in Garde and N higher in Aspurz. Changes in nutrient concentrations over time varied depending on litterfall fractions, showing a variety of patterns; seasonal (N, P, K) or erratic patterns (Ca, Mg) in Aspurz, and seasonal (N, P), biannual (Ca, Mg) or erratic (K) patterns in Garde. In addition to these patterns, differences in nutrient concentrations between years were found in needle litter in Aspurz but not in Garde. Nitrogen returns to forest floor via litterfall were more constant in Aspurz but followed a pulse dynamics in Garde, with the opposite for P, due to important returns from the miscellaneous fraction in the Mediterranean site. Thinning reduced nutrient returns via litterfall in both sites, but significant differences were found only in summer. These results suggest that Aspurz (Mediterranean stand) is more sensitive in the short-term to human intervention than Garde (continental stand) and therefore site-specific forest management plans should be used within more general region-wide plans in order to ensure sustainability of forests.     

沿海沙地吊丝竹林凋落物及养分动态研究

对沿海沙地吊丝竹林的凋落物及养分月动态特征进行连续观测分析,研究结果表明:竹林凋落物量月动态呈现双峰型模式,2个峰值分别出现在2004年10月和2005年4月,这2个月凋落物量占全年总量的26.90%;2005年1月和7月凋落物量较少,只占全年总量的8.92%。各营养元素在凋落物中组分平均值大小排列顺序为:N>K>P>Mg>Ca。凋落物N、P、K、Mg归还量月动态全年呈现出2个峰值期,分别出现在2004年10~11月和2005年4~5月;Ca只有单峰值期,出现在2004年10~11月。凋落物各营养元素归还量最大是N,年归还总量为58.32 kg.hm-2,最小是Ca,只有0.61 kg.hm-2。N、P、K、Mg、Ca在峰值期养分归还量分别占全年比例的48.44%、47.12%、50.48%、53.49%和36.30%。沿海沙地吊丝竹林凋落物年养分归还量为97.54 kg.hm-2。     

5个阔叶树种叶片的养分特征分析

用半微量凯氏法、钼兰比色法、火焰光度法和原子吸收光度法分别对阔叶树种红锥、红花荷、大叶相思、木荷、樟树叶片的N、P、K、Ca和Mg含量进行了测定。结果表明:红锥叶片的各养分含量中等,红花荷叶片的N、P、K、Ca含量都是5种树种中最低的,大叶相思叶片的N、K含量最高,木荷叶片的Mg含量最高;樟树叶片的P、Ca含量最高,Mg含量最低。聚类分析将5种树种的养分类型分为2类,第1类树种有红锥和红花荷,叶片单位叶面积养分含量较高;第2类为大叶相思、木荷和樟树,叶片单位叶面积养分含量较低。     

盐分和水分胁迫对落羽杉幼苗的生长量及营养元素含量的影响

采用温室盆栽试验方法 ,研究了不同土壤水分下盐胁迫对 1年生落羽杉实生苗的生长及营养吸收的影响。试验共 12种处理 ,3种水分水平 (W1 ,淹水 ;W2 、W3,土壤含水量分别为田间持水量的 75 %和 2 5 % ) ,每种水分下设 4种盐分处理 (NaCl含量为土壤干重的 0、0 15 %、0 3%和 0 4 5 % ) ,处理时间为 130d。结果表明 :土壤盐分胁迫下落羽杉幼苗的生长及对营养的吸收发生了显著的变化 ,这种变化又因土壤含水量的不同而不同。落羽杉相对高生长、相对地径生长和生物量增量随着土壤盐分浓度的增加和土壤水分含量的减少而减少。在淹水条件下 ,随着土壤盐分浓度的增加 ,落羽杉幼苗根、茎、叶中全N、全P、全Na,以及叶片中的全Ca、全Fe的含量均随着升高 ,而根、茎中的全Fe、全Ca、全Mg含量差异较小。在W2 水分条件下 ,各种盐分处理都在不同程度上增加了根、茎、叶中全N、全Na、全Ca和全Fe含量 ,茎和叶中全P、全K和全Mg含量 ,而根系中的全P、全K和全Mg含量在盐分浓度较高时有所下降。在W3水分条件下 ,各种土壤盐分不同程度地增加了叶片全N、全P和全K含量 ,茎和叶中全Mg和全Ca含量 ,以及根、茎、叶中全Na含量 ,而茎和根中全N、全P和全K含量 ,根、茎和叶中全Fe含量均随着土壤盐分浓度的增加而下降。     

Litter production, seasonal pattern and nutrient return in seven natural forests compared with a plantation in southern China

The amount and pattern of litterfall and its nutrient returnwere studied in seven natural forests of Schima superba Gardn.and Champ. (SCS), Castanopsis fabri Hance (CAF), Tsoongiodendronodorum Chun (TSO), Cinnamomum chekiangense Nakai (CIC), Altingiagracilipes Hemsl. (ALG), Castanopsis carlesii (Hemsl.) Hayata(CAC) and Pinus massoniana D. Don (PIM), and compared with thatof an adjacent 29-year-old plantation of Chinese fir (Cunninghamialanceolata Lamb.) (CUL) in Jianou, Fujian, China. Mean annualtotal litterfall over 3 years of observations varied from 4.63Mg ha^–1 in the CUL to 8.85 Mg ha^–1 in the PIM; ofthis litterfall, the leaf contribution ranged from 62 to 73per cent. Litterfall in the CAF, ALG and CAC showed an unimodaldistribution pattern, while for the five other forests, thelitterfall pattern was multi-peak. The rank order of the eightforests, according to nutrient return mass with the exceptionof P, was different from the order when rank was according tototal mass of litterfall. The highest annual N, K and Ca returnsfrom total litterfall were noticed in the TSO, the CAF and theCUL, respectively. The amounts of P and Mg potentially returnedto the soil were the highest in the PIM. The leaf fraction providedgreater potential returns of N, P, K, Ca and Mg to the soilthan other litter fractions. The results of this study demonstratethat natural forests have a greater capability for maintainingsite productivity than the monoculture coniferous plantation,due to higher amount of above-ground litter coupled with greaternutrient returns; therefore conservation of natural forestsis recommended as a practical measure in forest management torealize sustainable development of forestry in mountainous areasof southern China.     

三峡库区马尾松根和叶片的生态化学计量特征

[目的]对马尾松根系和叶片养分(C、N、P、K、Ca、Mg)进行研究,探讨生长季和非生长季根系和叶片的化学计量学特征和养分分配特征,以及根和叶片养分的相关性。[方法]本研究分别在2014年7月和11月,利用土柱法采集根样和高枝剪采集枝条第二节上的健康叶样,然后再进行室内测试分析。[结果]表明:(1)非生长季与生长季相比,根C养分含量、C:N和N:P比值均下降,N、P、K、Ca、Mg养分含量含量均增加。(2)根C养分含量随直径增大而增加,N、P、K、Ca、Mg养分含量随直径增大而减小。(3)径级、取样时间以及两者交互作用对根系C、N、P、K、Ca、Mg养分含量和C、N、P养分化学计量比存在极显著影响(P0.01),同时取样时间对粗根C、N养分含量以及C:N比无显著影响。(4)细根(2 mm)C和N元素含量存在极显著的负相关关系,N和P元素含量存在极显著的正相关关系,同时C:N比值和N:P比值变异分别由各自两元素含量共同决定;粗根(2 3 mm)C、N计量比值和N:P比值变异分别主要由N元素含量和P元素含量决定;(5)从地上叶到地下根,C、N、P、K养分含量呈减少趋势,Ca、Mg养分含量呈增加趋势。同时,根和叶片养分含量相关性较弱,除C、K养分之外。[结论]马尾松根系养分含量与叶片养分的关系较弱,且分别对各养分的相对需求量不同;与生长季相比,非生长季马尾松根系N、P、K、Ca、Mg含量显著增加;C、N元素和N、P元素的耦合关系只出现在细根中。     

Biomass,decomposition and nutrient release of Vaccinium myrtillus leaf litter in four forest stands

Biomass and nutrient transfer (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) leaf litter fall, as well as decomposition and nutrient release, were studied in four mature forest stands situated in Central and South Sweden. Bilberry leaf litter fall amounted to between 33 and 55 kg ha^‐1 yr^‐1 in the four stands. Only minor differences between sites were noted for litter concentrations of N, P and Ca, whereas K and Mg showed somewhat larger variability. Relative amounts of the five nutrient elements in the litter fall were generally in the order N > Ca > K > Mg > P. The amounts of nutrients returned to the forest floor by the annual leaf litter fall in the stands ranged from 0.4 to 0.8 kg ha^‐1 for N, 0.4 to 0.6 kg ha^‐1 for Ca, 0.2 to 0.7 kg ha^‐1 for K, 0.1 to 0.2 kg ha^‐1 for Mg and 0.04 to 0.08 kg ha^‐1 for P.

The decomposition of the local bilberry leaf litter was followed by means of litterbags during three years. At all sites there was an extremely rapid mass loss from the litter (between 45% and 54%) during the first four to five months of decomposition. After this initial phase, the decomposition rates decreased markedly and after three years the accumulated mass losses of the litters varied between 64% and 78% at the studied sites. After two and three years of decomposition, three of the sites exhibited almost similar litter mass losses whereas at the fourth site the litter was decomposed to a significantly lower degree. The pattern of nutrient release from the decomposing bilberry leaf litter differed somewhat from site to site. Minor differences were, however, noted for P, Ca and Mg while N and K were more strongly retained in the litter at one of the sites.