The understory vegetation was sampled in eight plant communities
of a Douglas-fir ecosystem to determine the organic matter
production and mineral composition.
Four sample sites were selected in each plant community and
the understory vegetation sampled using the method of quadrats of
successively increasing size. All herbaceous plants were separated...
Humus is one of the important factors controlling the soil
formation process. The nutrients released from it during the decomposition
process also affect the growth and reproduction of the
forest. The type of humus formed is influenced by the nature of the
forest litter and the environment in which it...
Decomposition of forest litter is a complex process
involving interactions between physical, chemical and
biological factors. As litter decomposes it is chemically
altered. Cation exchange capacities of litter represent a
means of characterizing the number of hydrophilic acid
groups. Some kind of soil-root ion exchange mechanisms are
utilized by the...