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Litter-fall and decomposition in harvested and un-harvested boreal forests
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 21:36 authored by Martin Moroni, Zhu, XLitter fall and litter decomposition were examined in harvested and unharvested western Newfoundland balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and black spruce (Picea mariana) forests. Rates of litterfall in mature 70-year-old forests were 2.4 to 3.5 Mg ha−1 year−1, which was reduced to 0.2 to 0.3 Mg ha−1 year−1 following harvesting. In contrast, rates of black spruce needle, balsam fir needle, fine (<2 mm diameter) root, and moss (dominated by feather moss) litter decomposition were not affected by forest harvesting at either site during 24 to 54 months of field incubation in litterbags. Mass loss of balsam fir needle, black spruce needle, and moss (dominated by feather moss) were not significantly different indicating that moss forms a labile litter type in a forested setting.
History
Publication title
Forestry ChronicleVolume
88Issue
5Pagination
613-621ISSN
0015-7546Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Canadian Inst ForestryPlace of publication
151 Slater St, Ste 606, Ottawa, Canada, Ontario, K1P 5H3Repository Status
- Restricted