Biomass, production and nutrient distribution of a natural oak forest in central Korea

Yowhan Son, In Hyeop Park, Y. I. Myong Jong, Hyun O. Jin, Dong Yeob Kim, Rae Hyun Kim, Jung Ok Hwang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Biomass, production, and nutrient distribution of a pure Quercus variabilis Bl. stand (stand 1) and two mixed Q. variabilis-Q. mongolica Fisch. stands (stand 2 and 3) were investigated in central Korea. Stand 1 naturally occurred on a site with a southern aspect while stand 2 and stand 3 occurred on sites with a northern aspect. Total (overstory + understory vegetation) biomass (t ha-1) and annual production (t ha-1 year-1) were 137.8 and 11.1 for stand 1, 216.2 and 16.6 for stand 2, and 253.3 and 19.7 for stand 3. Nutrient contents (kg ha-1) in the vegetation were distributed as follows: K, 478-860; N, 471-839; Ca, 428-791; Mg, 72-125; Na, 77-141; and P, 37-71, and were greatest in stand 3 followed by stand 2, and stand 1. Stand density influenced the differences in biomass, annual production and nutrient contents in the vegetation. Forest floor dry mass and N content (kg ha-1) were 13 400 and 169 for stand 1, 10 400 and 133 for stand 2, and 11 200 and 127 for stand 3. Total amounts of N, P and Na in the ecosystem were greatest in the upper 40 cm of mineral soil followed by the vegetation and forest floor. However, the vegetation contained a greater amount of K than the mineral soil. It appeared that microenvironments, such as, aspect influenced the distribution of natural oak species within a relatively small area and resulted in differences in biomass, production and nutrient distribution among the stands.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)21-28
Number of pages8
JournalEcological Research
Volume19
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004 Jan

Keywords

  • Biomass
  • Nutrient distribution
  • Oak forest
  • Production

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

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