Effects of patch cutting on leaf nitrogen nutrition in hinoki cypress ( Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher) at different elevations along a slope in Japan.

Nakanishi, Asami; Inagaki, Yoshiyuki; Osawa, Naoya; Shibata, Shozo; Hirata, Kei'ichi

Leaf nitrogen nutrition of hinoki cypress ( Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher) was investigated at three positions along a slope over a period of 3 years. At each slope position, nitrogen properties were compared in patch-cut plots (0.06–0.09 ha) and uncut control plots (0.04 ha). Nitrogen cycling at the lower slope was characterized by a higher rate of soil nitrogen mineralization, and higher nitrogen concentration in fresh leaves and leaf-litter. The soil nitrogen mineralization rate and fresh-leaf nitrogen concentration in the patch-cut plots were higher than those in the control plots. However, leaf-litter nitrogen concentration did not differ between the patch-cut and control plots. The results suggest that slope position strongly affects leaf nitrogen nutrition of hinoki cypress and soil nitrogen availability. By contrast, patch cutting does not affect leaf-litter nitrogen concentration. These findings indicated that hinoki cypress would not enhance forest nitrogen cycling through changes in leaf-litter nitrogen concentration after patch cutting.

JAPAN; CHAMAECYPARIS obtusa; PLANT nutrition; NITROGEN; PLANT physiology

Journal of Forest Research, 2009, Vol 14, Issue 6, p388

1341-6979

Academic Journal

10.1007/s10310-009-0145-5