Studies on the Litters in the Forest and Shrub Communities in the Eastern Yanshan Mountains

The average amount of the present remaining litter in the forest community of the Eastern Yanshan Mountain is 4.35~28.67t/ha, with the greatest amount in the mixed forests of aspen (Populus davidiana Dode) with other broadleaf trees, the mixed forests of Chinese pine (Pinus tablaeformis Carr.) with oak, and the mixed forests of linden with other broadleaf trees; with the greater amount in the oak (Quercus variabilis B1., Q. liaotungensis Koidz., Q. dentata Thunb.) and Chinese arborvitae (Platy-cladus orientalis (L.) Endl.) forests. The average amount of the present remaining litters in the shrub community is 4.15~18.94t/ha, smaller than that in the forest community. The amount of the present remaining litters in the forests is determined by the composition of tree species, age of the forests, site condition and human interferences. Human interferences have brought about almost a complete loss of the litters. The total amount of the nutrient elements in the forest litters is 0.176~1.534 t/ha, and the maximum water content in the forest litter is 3.9-54.0 t/ha, averaging 41.2 t/ha. The total amount of the nutrient elements in the shrub litter is 0.327-0.846 t/ha, and the maximum water content in the shrub litter is 4.8-26.9 t/ha, averaging 16.2t/ha.