Carbon Dynam ics of L itter Decomposition in Six Forest Standsof Subtropica l China

Based on the field study, this paper deals with carbon dynamics of litter decomposition in six land-usetypes of forests in the subtrop ical area of south China. The results showed that: ( 1 ) at the beginning of thedecomposition, the carbon content in litter increased, indicating the accumulation p rocess of carbon; later, thecarbon content decreased, while after one year of decomposition, the carbon content of that in the Phy llostachysedu lis extensively managed stand was reduced by 11. 7%; ( 2) the carbon quantity of litter in the Phy llostachysedu lis stand decreased from the beginning, while those for the others increased first and then decreased; after oneyear, the carbon quantity of the extensively managed Ph. edulis stand decreased by 53. 8%; the release rate ofcarbon from the highest to lowest was ranked as follows: the extensively managed Ph. edu lis stand, Ph. praecoxstand, Cunningham ia lanceolata stand, the intensively managed Ph. edu lis stands and Pinus m assoniana; (3) theremaining carbon amount of forest litter could be described by exponential equation models; (4) the decomposition rate of litterwas positively correlated with air temperature.