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LITTER FALL AND NUTRIENT RETURN IN QUERCUS CERRIS L. VAR. CERRIS FORESTS IN THE CENTRAL BLACK SEA REGION OF TURKEY

HAMDI GÜRAY KUTBAY AND AYHAN HORUZ*

Abstract: Litter fall and nutrient return in a deciduous Quercus cerris L. var. cerris forest which constitutes the "étage supra-mediterranéen pré-pontique" vegetation layer in the Central Black Sea Region of Turkey were investigated. Total annual input of litter was 681.90 g m^-2 of which 64% was leaf litter fall, followed by 27, 7 and 2% wood, reproductive and miscellaneous litter fall, respectively. The annual nutrient return through litter fall was 42.70 kg ha^-1 N, 2.62 kg ha-1 P, 44.37 kg ha^-1 K, 85.78 kg ha^-1 Ca and 15.54 kg ha^-1 Mg. High turnover rate was found in the present study. However, turnover time was lower than other Quercus forests.
 

Department of Biology, University of Ondokuz Mayis, Samsun-55139, Turkey.
Department of Soil Scoence, University of Ondokuz Mayis, Samsun-55139, Turkey.