Litter fall and nutrient return in Quercus cerris L. var. Cerris forests in the central black sea region of Turkey

Kutbay H. G., HORUZ A.

Pakistan Journal of Botany, vol.33, no.3, pp.293-303, 2001 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 33 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2001
  • Journal Name: Pakistan Journal of Botany
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.293-303
  • Ondokuz Mayıs University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Litter fall and nutrient return in a deciduous Quercus cerris L. var. cerris forest which constitutes the "étage supra-mediterranéen pré-pontique" vegetation layer in the Central Black Sea Region of Turkey were investigated. Total annual input of litter was 681.90 g m-2 of which 64% was leaf litter fall, followed by 27, 7 and 2% wood, reproductive and miscellaneous litter fall, respectively. The annual nutrient return through litter fall was 42.70 kg ha-1 N, 2.62 kg ha-1 P, 44.37 kg ha-1 K, 85.78 kg ha-1 Ca and 15.54 kg ha-1 Mg. High turnover rate was found in the present study. However, turnover time was lower than other Quercus forests.