Temperature effects on the ash properties of pine and maple leaf litter
Date
2013Author
Dūdaitė, Jolita
Baltrėnaitė-Gedienė, Edita
Úbeda, Xavier
Žukovskienė, Marija
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The dominant litter samples Pinus sylvestris L. needle litter and Acer platanoides L. leaf litter were collected in the coniferous mixed forest located at 54 degrees 43 ' N 25 degrees 19 ' E (Vilnius, Lithuania) in April 2010. Different heating temperatures (150, 250, 350, 450 and 550 degrees C) and 2 hour heating duration were used to produce ashes. The selected heating temperatures affected mass loss, colour, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), C/N ratio, nutrient concentrations of the ash. The darkness of Munsell chroma values was visible at 250 degrees C and 350 degrees C in both types of litter and additionally at 450 degrees C in the needle litter ash. In contrast, the chroma values increased in brightness mainly between 450 and 550 degrees C. The general tendency of pH (p=0.01) increase was ranging at the 150-550 degrees C interval and the results did not include acid and extremely alkaline features but over the temperature of 350 degrees C were alkaline. Values of EC (p=0.01) showed similar differences in the same litters. EC reached the maximum value at 450 degrees C in Acer platanoides L. leaf litter. Likewise, heating temperatures affected litter ash nutrient composition. K, S, and P concentrations particularly depended on heating temperature and litter type. Nutrient concentrations were in the order Ca>K>Na>S>Mg>P>Zn>Fe for needle litter and Ca>K>S>Mg>P>Na>Fe>Zn for leaf litter samples. Significant differences in C/N ratio between the litters were observed as temperatures increased.