Fine root decomposition in tropical dry evergreen and dry deciduous forests in Thailand |
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Authors: | Reiji Fujimaki Hiroshi Takeda Decha Wiwatiwitaya |
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Institution: | (1) Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan;(2) Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand;(3) Present address: Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University, 79-7 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan |
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Abstract: | Dry evergreen forest (DEF) and dry deciduous dipterocarp forest (DDF) are major forest types extensively distributed in northeastern
Thailand, exhibiting different nutrient cycling properties. This study aims to improve our understanding on the pattern of
mass loss and nitrogen release from two categories of roots (fine, <2 mm and small, 2–5 mm) of Hopea ferrea at DEF and fine roots of mixed trees and dwarf bamboo (Arundinaria pusilla) at DDF sites. Decomposition experiment was performed for more than 12 months using buried litter bag technique. Initial
chemistry was significantly different among the four root litters; fine root of H. ferrea exhibited a low ratios of C:N and acid-insoluble:N. The fine root of dwarf bamboo was characterized by high contents of total
carbohydrate and ash. Decomposition rate constants (year−1) of ash-free weight remaining were 1.27 and 0.55 for fine and small roots of H. ferrea, and 0.73 and 0.66 for fine root of mixed trees and dwarf bamboo, respectively. At the end of the experiment, the N concentration
in fine and small roots of H. ferrea increased to 1.5 times the initial concentration. Whereas, N mass of dwarf bamboo decreased during the experiment. This suggests
a different pattern of root decomposition and N release in two forest ecosystems. Generally, the fine root decomposition was
faster in the DEF than in the DDF. The role of initial litter chemistry was more pronounced than the climatic seasonality
on the belowground decomposition pattern in our study. |
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Keywords: | Decomposition Dry dipterocarp forest Dry evergreen forest Nitrogen Root chemistry |
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