Abstract
To clarify the temporal effects of different plant species on the nutrient dynamics and soil biochemical characteristics in the same site location, we investigated the amounts and nutrient contents of the litter fall, soil chemical characteristics (every 40 cm from the tree trunk, 6 points and 0∼25 cm depth, 5 cm intervals), microbial analyses and cellulose decomposition rates at two beech (Fagus crenata) forest and cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) forest consisted from two different ages (40 and 80 years old). Amount of the litter fall were almost same in the beech and cypress forest, and N content of the litter fall in the cypress forest was approximately 0.5 time of the beech forest. On the other hand, Ca, Mg contents of the litter fall in cypress forest were about 1.4∼1.7, 1.2∼1.8 times larger than those of beech forest, respectively. As a result of compared the soil property of four sites, cypress plantation enhanced acidification of tree trunk soil, reduced the cellulose decomposition rates. However the nutrient concentrations were not significantly decreased in cypress forests. Moreover, in the cypress forest (80 years old), soil organic matter and base cations were accumulated around tree trunk soil. Present results suggest that if cypress forest located in sloping terrain, management that reduced erosion of the forest floor is carried out appropriately and the soil nutrients could be maintained.
