Abstract
Forest leaf litter collections and composting have been carried out as maintenance activities in Satoyama, Japan. The purpose of this study is to clarify the degree of trampled forest leaf litter and changing of chemical characteristic and microbial activity differences between trampled and not trampled forest leaf litter in Satoyama. Microbial activity (Absorbance at 490nm = A490) of composting forest leaf litter rose to below the composting after one year regardless trampled and not trampled. Trampled forest leaf litter had no effect on the changing of the chemical and biological characteristics of composting beyond a limit of period (about 6 month). In the composting first stage, forest litter collections have been compressed because of trampling, resulting in confirming an increase of content weight and microbial activity. The carbon mineralization and huminification was promoted by means of trampling forest leaf litter. Hence, trampled forest leaf litter was an effective contribution toward composting during the first stage.
