Table 2 Models (y = aekt) for the relationship between mass remaining (y, %) of Chinese fir and naturally occurring secondary forest leaf litter and time (t, a).

From: Litter decomposition and nutrient release are faster under secondary forests than under Chinese fir plantations with forest development

 

Regression equation

Decomposition constant (g g−1 a−1)

R2

T50(a)

CF8

y = 97.72e−0.581t

0.581Bb

0.991

1.15

CF21

y = 105.15e−0.683t

0.683Ba

0.969

1.09

CF27

y = 98.1e−0.539t

0.539Bc

0.981

1.26

CF40

y = 99.26e−0.538t

0.538Abc

0.977

1.27

NF10

y = 105.46e−0.872t

0.872Aa

0.982

0.87

NF18

y = 101.45e−0.832t

0.832Aab

0.973

0.85

NF28

y = 103.51e−0.762t

0.762Abc

0.992

0.96

NF38

y = 98.58e−0.609t

0.609Ac

0.995

1.12

NF100

y = 104.56e−0.823t

0.823ab

0.965

0.9

  1. T50(a) represents the time required for a 50% mass loss for the litter from different forest age sequences. The uppercase letters indicate significant differences under two forest types of similar forest age, while the lowercase letters indicate significant differences under different stand ages of the same forest type (P < 0.05).