ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Dynamics of Plant Litter Potassium Storage
in a Subtropical Forest Headwater Stream
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1
Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education,
School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China
2
Fujian Sanming Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Sanming 365002, China
3
College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610066, China
Submission date: 2023-12-21
Final revision date: 2024-01-03
Acceptance date: 2024-01-29
Online publication date: 2024-06-19
Publication date: 2024-07-12
Corresponding author
Yan Peng
School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2024;33(5):5567-5576
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ABSTRACT
Plant litter imported from forest headwater streams is an important supply of material and energy
to the downstream aquatic ecosystems, affecting the storages and fluxes of carbon and nutrients
of the whole forest ecosystems. However, our knowledge on the dynamics of plant litter potassium
(K) storage is still limited. Here, we monitored the spatial and temporal characteristics of plant
litter K concentration and storage in a subtropical forest headwater stream for an entire year.
Results showed that: (1) the annual average concentration and storage of K in plant litter were 1.4 mg/kg
and 19.6 mg/m2, respectively, with an overall decreasing trend throughout the year and from the source
of the stream to the mouth; (2) riparian forest type (broadleaved vs. mixed forests) and the presence
of a tributary showed significant effects on twig K concentration and storage, but did not affect those
of other types of plant litter (total, fine woody debris, leaf, reproductive part, and twig); (3) water
depth and active channel width positively correlated with litter K storage, while stream gradient,
water dissolved oxygen, and alkalinity negatively corrected to litter K storage. Our results clearly
demonstrated the spatiotemporal dynamics of plant litter K storage in the subtropical forest headwater
stream, which provides basic data and scientific basis for an in-depth understanding of nutrient fluxes
and cycling along with ecohydrological processes in subtropical forest ecosystems.