Chin J Plan Ecolo ›› 2000, Vol. 24 ›› Issue (4): 473-476.

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Study on Effect of Litter Layer on Community in Aneurolepidium chinense Grassland in Songnen Plain

GUO Ji-Xun, SUN Gang and JIANG Shi-Cheng   

  • Published:2000-04-30
  • Contact: YANG Xiao-Bo

Abstract: Seasonal change in litter weight and number of germinating plants showed a parabolic form. The peak number germinating was 200g·m-2. Litter effected germination via its influence on surface temperature and soil water. The number of species present in the community increased with increasing litter weight up to a peak value of 800 g·m-2: species saturation occurred at 14·m-2 , then decreased. Changes in the density, average height, coverage and aboveground biomass of dominant species with litter weight were basically similar and each peaked at around 600g·m-2. The litter layer had a strong influence upon the dynamics of community succession. The difference between plots in which litter weight was low was small, while communities diverged as litter weight increased. The changes of aboveground biomass and underground biomass of community with litter weight showed a single peak at 600g·m-2 and 700 g·m-2 respectively. Underground and aboveground biomass both varied with litter weight in a ‘V’ type pattern with the lowest value around 550 g·m-2 .