3.1. Litterfall and nutrient return
Total litterfall at plantation and forest sites ranged between 419.9 and 547.7 g m2 year1. The Q. serrata leaf litter
contributed 89% of the total leaf litterfall at the forest site.
The contribution of non-leaf portion in total litterfall was 15% at the forest site whereas about 3% at plantation sites.
Leaf litterfall occurred almost throughout the year except inthe months of June and July. However, the litterfall was
markedly seasonal (Fig. 2) and more than two-third litterfall