3.2. Litterfall
Mean annual litterfall production ranged from 3.28 ± 1.49 Mg ha1 yr1 in open land to 11.26 ± 2.25 Mg ha1 yr1 in regenerating forest (Table 2). The mean total annual litterfall in regenerating forest was not significantly different from that in mature forest (Table 2).
The results were similar when litterfall was divided into each of the four component categories. The contribution of different litter components to the total litterfall showed a consistent pattern: leaves > fine wood > reproductive parts > miscellaneous (Table 2).
The proportional contribution from leaves was the highest in tea fields (73%) and the lowest in regenerating forest
(63%). Meanwhile, the proportional contribution from fine wood decreased from mature forest (25%) to tea field (13%) (Table 2).
Total litterfall in mature forest and regenerating forest evidenced a clear seasonal pattern, with a major peak during the late dry season (Mar.–May).
However, for tea plantations there was no clear seasonal pattern (Figs. 4 and 5). The seasonal pattern for leaves and miscellaneous materials in mature forest and regenerating forest was similar to the overall pattern, but there was no clearseasonal pattern for fine wood and reproductive parts (Fig. 4 and online supplementary materials Fig. S1).
Total annual litterfall in forests was slightly higher during the Year I, but the reverse was true for the tea plantations. The resultfollowed similar pattern when the litter components were considered separately (Table 2).