Plant Biomass, Primary Production and Mineral Cycling of a Mixed Oak Forest in Linnebjer, Sweden

Folke O. Andersson

Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.

DOI: 10.4236/ojf.2014.45061                

Abstract

Plant biomass, primary production and mineral cycling were studied in a mixed deciduous forest (Quercus robur L., Tilia cordata L. and Corylus avellana L.) in southern Sweden. Plant biomass amount above and below ground was 201 and 37 t·ha^-1, respectively. Primary production above and below ground was an estimated 13.3 and 2.3 t·ha^-1, respectively. Carbon was the dominant element in the forest ecosystem, comprising 133 t·ha^-1. Other major elements were: N > Ca > K > Si > Mg > S > Mn > P > Fe and Na (range 1123 to 18 kg·ha^-1), followed by some trace elements. Yearly litterfall restored 6.0 t·ha^-1 organic matter or 2.3 t·ha^-1 carbon. Approximately 45% decomposed and returned to the soil during the year. Monitoring of other elements revealed that the ecosystem received inputs through dry and wet deposition, in particular 34.4 kg·ha^-1 S and 9.4 kg·ha^-1 of N yearly as throughfall. Determination of yearly biomass increase showed that the oak forest ecosystem was still in an aggradation or accumulation phase.

Keywords

Plant Biomass, Primary Production, Litterfall, Deposition, Cycling of C, N, P, K, S

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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