Litter dynamics in Western Blacksea forest ecosytems

The aim of this study is to determine biomass and carbon content of plant, litter and soil and dynamics of litter and to estimate leaf litter decomposition rates in eastern beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) and Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) mixed stands in Duzce-Akçakoca located in Western Black Sea Region of Turkey. There was a positive regression between biomass and carbon content of chestnut and beech and diameter at breast height of these trees. Amount of carbon content of soil, litter, weed, and trees were estimated 92.1, 4.2, 25 and 169 Mg ha-1 respectively and the total carbon store was estimated 290.3 Mg ha-1 in this ecosystem. Litter decomposition was examined in four time periods (3, 6, 15 and 27 months) and 81 %, 68 %, 55 % and 42 % of total mass of chestnut leaf litter was remained after these time periods, respectively. Amount of remaining mass of beech leaf litter for four time periods was found 1.1, 1.2, 1.2 and 1.4 times greater than chestnut leaf litter, respectively. However, estimated k values of chestnut for all time periods were found 2 times greater than beech leaf litter. Minimum k values were found at the end of the second year for both beech and chestnut, 0.248 and 0.398 respectively. Maximum k values were found at the end of the third month for both beech and chestnut, and were 2 times greater than minimum values. First year k values for chestnut and beech were estimated 0.478 and 0.307, respectively. As a result mass loss and estimated k values of chestnut leaf litter were found greater than beech leaf litter and thereby decomposition of chestnut leaf litter was faster than beech leaf litter. Thus time for losing 95 % of mass (3/k) for beech and chestnut was estimated 10-12 years and 6-7.5 years respectively. Early decomposition of beech leaf litter was found faster on east aspect than west aspect and in contrast the same result were found for chestnut at the further stage of decomposition, end of first end second year. Elevation increases were accelerated decomposition in beech stands at the end of the first year and for the second year was quite the opposite. In chestnut stands there were no differences for decomposition rates till end of first year and at the end of the second year as the elevation increased decomposition rate was decreased.