Science. 1961 Jul 21;134(3473):194-5. doi: 10.1126/science.134.3473.194.
Breakdown of organic matter, an important step in the ecological circulation of chemical elements, was measured in Great Smoky Mountain and Oak Ridge forests. Greatest variation in first-year weight loss of leaves in nylon net bags was due to species (Fagus grandifolia 21 percent, Acer saccharum 32 percent, Quercus shumardii 34 percent, Quercus alba 39 percent, Morus rubra 64 percent). At elevations of 5200, 3400, and 850 ft, losses for all five species averaged, respectively, 29, 34, and 40 percent for leaves placed in spruce, hemlock, and pine stands, and 35, 40, and 46 percent for leaves placed in beech, cove hardwood, and whiteoak stands.
有机物的分解是化学元素生态循环中的重要环节，我们在大烟山和橡树岭森林对其进行了测量。在尼龙网袋中，树叶第一年重量损失的最大差异是由于物种的不同（山毛榉 21%，糖槭 32%，红栎 34%，白栎 39%，桑椹 64%）。在海拔 5200、3400 和 850 英尺处，所有五个物种的损失平均值分别为 29%、34%和 40%，放置在云杉、铁杉和松林中的树叶，以及 35%、40%和 46%，放置在山毛榉、阔叶林和白栎林中的树叶。
