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The Persistence of Decaying Wood in the Humus Layers of Northern Forests¹

ABSTRACT

The amount, composition, and persistence of decaying wood in humus layers was examined in yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton)-red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) stands in the Adirondack Region of New York. The wood is initially attacked by brown rot fungi, but thereafter decomposes very slowly and may persist in the humus layer for a century or more. Separable wood residues weighed as much as 41,800 lb/acre and composed 14 to 30% of the forest floor. These residues were significantly lower in N and P content than the surrounding humus.

¹ Contribution from the Department of Agronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. Agronomy Paper no. 669.

² Formerly graduate assistant, now assistant professor, Purdue University and Pack Professor of Forest Soils, respectively.

Received for publication March 12, 1965. Accepted for publication April 27, 1966.