[Root decomposition and nutrient release of Fraxinus manshurica and Larix gmelinli plantations]

A two-year buried bag experiment with different sizes of Fraxinus mandshurica and Larix gmelinii roots showed that the coarse (5 to approximately 10 mm), medium (2 to approximately 5 mm) and fine ( <2 mm) roots of F. mandshurica had an annual decomposition coefficient of 0.3649, 0.4381 and 0.2720, while those of L. gmelinii had the coefficient of 0.1967, 0.1955 and 0.2464, respectively. During root decomposition, large amounts of carbon and nutrients released. After buried into soil for 150 days, more than 90% of soluble sugar in all sizes of the two species roots was released, and about 40%, 71% and 95% of potassium was released from the coarse and medium, and fine roots of F. mandshurica, and all sizes of L. gmelinii roots, respectively. In the second year of the experiment, about 50% of nitrogen and 40% of phosphorus were released from the coarse and medium roots of the two species, and 60% of nitrogen and phosphorus were released from their fine roots. In the study of forest ecosystem's carbon and nutrient cycles, root decomposition shouldn't be ignored.