Understanding of litterfall and fine root dynamics in temperate forest ecosystems is limited even though these are major components in carbon and nutrient cycling. We studied litterfall, fine root biomass and production in a series of temperate deciduous and coniferous forests in Japan and Korea. We used ingrowth core method for fine root (< 5 mm) study and circular litter traps for litterfall measurement. Our preliminary results show that annual fine root production ranges from 91 to 872 g m-2 and annual litterfall mass ranges from 360 to 597 g m-2. For further research, we will estimate fine root turnover rate and test the relationship between above- and below-ground production and the contribution of fine root and litterfall to nutrient dynamics by forest types.
