Appendix C. Initial chemical characteristics of needle litter used in the litter decomposition experiment.
Species |
C (%) |
N (%) |
C:N |
Percentage nonpolar extractives(fats, waxes) |
Percentage water soluble (sugars) |
Percentage water soluble (tannins) |
Percentage acid soluble(cellulose) |
Percentage acid insoluble(lignin) |
Lignin:N |
||||||||||||||||||
Pine |
53.39 |
(0.38) |
a |
0.43 |
(0.02) |
a |
124 |
(6.7) |
a |
15.64 |
(1.06) |
a |
8.46 |
(0.32) |
a |
5.10 |
(0.10) |
a |
34.48 |
(0.83) |
a |
24.99 |
(0.48) |
a |
56.44 |
(2.99) |
a |
Spruce |
49.62 |
(0.24) |
b |
0.64 |
(0.01) |
b |
78 |
(1.3) |
b |
10.12 |
(0.25) |
b |
18.83 |
(0.15) |
b |
7.37 |
(0.06) |
b |
34.05 |
(0.19) |
a |
20.94 |
(0.12) |
b |
30.74 |
(0.43) |
b |
Fir |
51.98 |
(0.08) |
c |
0.75 |
(0.03) |
c |
69 |
(3.1) |
b |
15.88 |
(1.04) |
a |
10.38 |
(0.50) |
c |
4.76 |
(0.29) |
a |
33.98 |
(0.65) |
a |
23.38 |
(1.24) |
a |
29.45 |
(2.03) |
b |
Notes: C and N are expressed as percentage oven-dry mass (± 1 SE), n = 4. C fractions and lignin:N ratio are expressed as % ash-free, oven-dry mass (± 1 SE), n = 3. Different letters indicate statistical difference among species at P < 0.05.