Chemical properties of throughfall and forest floor leaching in Fagus orientalis trees within growing and non-growing periods

Abstract

Changes in chemical properties of throughfall and forest floor leaching in growing (leafed) and non-growing (leafless) periods essentially influence the biogeochemical cycle of forest ecosystems, especially in the broadleaved stands. The aim of this study was to compare the chemical composition. i.e. Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and Potassium contents of throughfall as well as forest floor leaching in oriental beech trees in the Shastkolateh experimental forest of Golestan province. Throughfall and forest floor samples were taken after each rain within one year (21.08.2008 to 21.12.2009). To investigate leached nutrition of throughfall and forest floor in growing and non-growing periods, we used t-paired at the 95% confidence level. Results showed that Sodium and Potassium leaching in throughfall in the non-growing period (24.3 and 60 kg ha-1, respectively) were significantly higher than those of the growing period (52 and 18.7 kg ha-1, respectively). Furthermore, Sodium, Potassium and Calcium fluxes via forest floor in the non-growing period were 12.6, 42.3 and 8.2 kg ha-1, which showed significantly higher rates than those measured during the growing period (8.6, 23.5 and 6 kg ha-1, respectively). This study concludes that factors e.g. bark, decomposed leaves, and dry deposition play remarkable roles in the cations leaching process in forest floor within the eastern Hyrcanian forests during the non-growing period.

Keywords

• Forest floor leaching
• throughfall
• mixed beech stand
• growing and non-growing periods