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Table 4 Amounts of C, N, P, S, Ca, K, Mg, Mn and Lignin (% Initial amount), mean ± standard deviation (SD) in log segments of Fagus sylvatica, Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris; mass loss at 8 years: 32%, 24.9% and 24.6%, 18 years: 60.2%, 41.9% and 42.9%, and 36 years: 63.8% and 53.6% for beech, spruce and pine respectively; small values indicate significant difference (p < 0.05) between species as well as between periods of decomposition. n = number of samples

From: Nutrient retention and release in coarse woody debris of three important central European tree species and the use of NIRS to determine deadwood chemical properties

Element

Species

Decomposition time

p value (anova)

8

18

36

 

Mean ± SD

n

Mean ± SD

n

Mean ± SD

n

Time

Species

C

Beech

70.6a ± 12.8

47

40.9b ± 13.2

16

  

< 0.001

 

Spruce

79.9a ± 6.86

47

60.9b ± 11.4

19

40.3c ± 18

16

< 0.001

Pine

76.3a ± 10.2

33

59.2b ± 14.5

21

48.4b ± 17

11

< 0.001

N

Beecha

89.4a ± 36

50

67b ± 25.9

16

  

< 0.05

< 0.05

Spruceb

86.8a ± 37.1

45

101a ± 52

18

238b ± 95.7

16

< 0.001

Pineab

87.3a ± 40.9

31

119b ± 48.8

21

97ab ± 32.7

11

< 0.05

P

Beecha

55.4a ± 22.9

49

27.3b ± 18.4

16

  

< 0.001

< 0.001

Spruceb

69a ± 39.8

45

74.7a ± 50.5

19

125b ± 59

16

< 0.01

 

Pineb

102 ± 52.9

31

113 ± 81.8

21

49.2 ± 25.6

10

  

S

Beech

88.7 ± 31.8

16

75.7 ± 69.6

10

    

Spruce

49.8a ± 25

13

55.7a ± 16.5

4

317b ± 94

10

< 0.001

 

Pine

112 ± 50.9

8

184 ± 182

7

68.6 ± 47.5

6

  

Ca

Beecha

93.6 ± 50.4

16

76.8 ± 28.8

10

   

< 0.01

 

Sprucea

94.6 ± 28.2

13

92.8 ± 36.8

4

118 ± 71.4

10

  
 

Pineb

71.2 ± 12.3

8

61 ± 23.3

7

58.1 ± 27.9

6

  

K

Beechab

49.8a ± 33.8

16

20.9b ± 11.6

10

  

< 0.05

< 0.05

 

Sprucea

56.9 ± 15.7

13

82.1 ± 73.9

4

43.7 ± 51.9

10

  
 

Pineb

54.4a ± 36.9

8

20.9b ± 10.1

7

11.4c ± 5.55

6

< 0.001

 

Mg

Beechab

76 ± 56.9

16

57.5 ± 24

10

   

< 0.01

 

Sprucea

99.2 ± 25.6

13

95.9 ± 66.9

4

75.1 ± 50.5

10

  
 

Pineb

97.7a ± 25.8

8

30.2b ± 11.5

7

23.1b ± 11.6

6

< 0.001

 

Mn

Beecha

133a ± 53.6

15

247b ± 97.6

10

  

< 0.01

< 0.01

 

Spruceb

93.4 ± 46.8

13

313 ± 197

4

133 ± 181

10

  
 

Pineb

141a ± 70.9

8

85.7a ± 23.1

7

36.1b ± 30.7

6

< 0.001

 

Lignin

Beecha

75.9a ± 15.6

49

48.8b ± 14.9

17

  

< 0.001

< 0.001

 

Spruceb

90.2a ± 13.3

47

69.4b ± 14.5

19

72.2ab ± 38.6

16

< 0.001

 
 

Pinea

77.4a ± 11.3

33

56.1b ± 8.6

21

47.5ab ± 14.8

11

< 0.001