Abstract:By the method of litterfall trap, and from October 2009 to October 2010, an investigation was made on the amount, composition and dynamic charcteristics of the litterfalls in four typical forests(Liquidambar formosana, Cinnamomum camphora, Pinus massoniana, and Camphor-Pine mixed forest) of Hunan Province, subtropical China.The results showed that the annual litterfall amount and the litter composition differed obviously among the four forest types.The Camphora-Pinus mixed forest had the largest annual litterfall amount(about 4.30 t/hm2), followed by Liquidambar forest, Pinus forest and Cinnamomum camphora forest.In different plant components,the leaf litter had the largest annual litterfall amount (above 70%),Such as Camphora-Pinus mixed forest (3.09 t/hm2) > Liquidambar (2.78 t/hm2) > Pinus (2.46 t/hm2) > Camphora (2.32 t/hm2). Branch litter showed that Camphora-Pinus mixed forest (0.73 t/hm2) > Camphora (0.53 t/hm2) > Pinus (0.30 t/hm2) > Liquidambar (0.22 t/hm2). The Pinus forest had the largest annual fruit litter amount(about 10.95%). The Liquidambar forest had the largest annual miscellany amount(about 14.91%).In October, Liquidambar forest had the largest annual litterfall amount (1.22 t/hm2) and in August, Camphora had the largest annual litterfall amount (0.58 t/hm2), the Pinus and Camphora-Pinus mixed forest had the largest annual litterfall amount in November (0.77 t/hm2 and 1.23 t/hm2).The research showed that the amount of branch litter was less than the amount miscellany. The litter production of the dominant species greatly influenced the dynamics of total litter production.
