A quantitative study of the forest floor, litter fall and nutrient return in an oak-conifer forest in Himalaya. I. Composition and dynamics of forest floor

Abstract

The present study, which deals with the dynamics of forest floor in a mixed oak-conifer forest at Naini Tal in Kumaun Himalayan, indicated yearlong occurrence of two distinct litter materials, besides the herbaceous vegetation. On the forest floor:(a) the uppermost layer of fresh leaf litter and (b) partially decomposed material which sometimes assumed a multilayered structure depending upon the kind of overhead species and season. The greatest amount of fresh litter was contributed by one of the most dominant species on this site., viz., Quercus floribunda. The peak values of fresh litter and partially decomposed material occurred in the period April-May and in May respectively. The relative contribution of partially decomposed material to the total forest floor remained greatest in all the months. The herbaceous vegetation on the forest floor reflected maximum biomass in September with total annual net production of 108.9 g. m^-2. The total calculated annual input of litter was 612.63 g. m^-3. About 72% of the forest floor was replaced each year with a consequence turnover time of 4 years.