Pattern of litterfall and return of nutrients in five Oak species of mixed Oak forest of Manipur, North-East India

Litterfall and its nutrient return in five oak species were studied in the mixed Oak forest in Senapati District, Manipur .Litter production was measured by litter trap method. The total annual litterfall was 958.9 g m-2yr-1.Leaf and non leaf litterfall comprises 76.7 % and 23.3 % of the total litterfall. Maximum litterfall was found in the month of April (193.5 g m-2) and minimum in the month of July (23.7 g m-2).About 70% of the forest floor was replaced each year with turnover time of 1.42 yr.The amount of nutrient return through leaf litter was found to be maximum in Q.polystachya and minimum in C.indica. Nutrients (NPK) concentration of leaf litter of five different tree species was varied among different tree species