Litter Decomposition of a Deciduous Tectona philippinensis and an Evergreen Parashorea malaanonan Across Contrasting Sites

Authors

  • Jonathan Ogayon Hernandez Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños
  • Lerma San Jose Maldia Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños
  • Crusty Estoque Tinio Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños
  • Marilyn Sabalvaro Combalicer Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23960/jsl.v12i2.909

Abstract

Litter traits and site conditions alter nutrient inputs from deciduous and evergreen forests by influencing litter decomposition processes. Here, we investigated the leaf and stem mass loss rate (MLR) of a deciduous (Tectona philippinensis) and an evergreen (Parashorea malaanonan) tree species and the factors influencing it through an intersite experiment and litterbag method in secondary forests in Lobo, Batangas and Mount Makiling Forest Reserve (MMFR). Variations in initial litter quality (leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA), leaf thickness, vein density), and site factors (light intensity and temperature) were assessed. P. malaanonan has a lower SLA and vein density than T. philippinensis. The leaf and stem MLR were significantly higher in the mixed litter (44.09–57.83%) than that of a single-species litter of either T. philippinensis (28.16–41.83%) or P. malaanonan (33.60–47.66%). The leaf MLR of T. philippinensis was greater when placed in Lobo (where the litter originated) than at a different site (i.e., MMFR). Moreover, leaf litter decomposition was faster in T. philippinensis than in P. malaanonan, particularly during the rainy season. Overall, the study showed that litter decomposition in deciduous and evergreen differed across sites due to variations in litter quality and environmental variables.

Keywords: decomposability traits, home-field advantage (HFA), intersite experiment, litter quality, mass loss rate

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

01-04-2024

How to Cite

Hernandez, J. O., Maldia, L. S. J., Tinio, C. E., & Combalicer, M. S. (2024). Litter Decomposition of a Deciduous Tectona philippinensis and an Evergreen Parashorea malaanonan Across Contrasting Sites. Jurnal Sylva Lestari, 12(2), 353–365. https://doi.org/10.23960/jsl.v12i2.909

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2024): May

Section

Articles

Statistics

 Abstract views: 212 times
 PDF downloaded: 202 times

Metrics

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Jonathan Ogayon Hernandez, Lerma San Jose Maldia, Crusty Estoque Tinio, Marilyn Sabalvaro Combalicer

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Licence that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).