Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Tropical Ecology https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-020-00065-x RESEARCH ARTICLE Production, decomposition and nutrient contents of litter in subtropical broadleaved forest surpass those in coniferous forest, Meghalaya I. M. Nonghuloo 1  · S. Kharbhih 1  · B. R. Suchiang 1  · D. Adhikari 1  · K. Upadhaya 2  · S. K. Barik 1,3 Received: 15 December 2018 / Revised: 30 November 2019 / Accepted: 10 December 2019 © International Society for Tropical Ecology 2020 Abstract Litter plays a crucial role in forest ecosystem functioning as its production and decomposition govern the pools and fuxes of forest nutrient cycling. The release of nutrients through litterfall and decomposition infuences forest productivity. Therefore, these two factors are considered to be important indicators of forest ecosystem health. Such processes vary across diferent ecosystem types because of natural as well as anthropogenic factors. Hence, studying such processes would help in better understanding and management of forest ecosystems. Litter production and decomposition rates between a broadleaved and a coniferous forest ecosystem of Meghalaya in Northeast India were compared. We selected six subtropical broadleaved forest stands in Muthlong, Ialong, Nongbah, Mukhla, Nongkrem and Mawnai, and six adjacent coniferous forest stands dominated by pine. We estimated leaf litter production, decomposition and nutrient release, and analyzed the nitrogen and phosphorus contents in the litter of both the forest types. The study revealed that litter production and decomposition rates, and the lit- ter nitrogen and phosphorous contents were signifcantly higher in the broadleaved forest compared to the pine forest. The variability in the litter characteristics was greater in the broadleaved forest compared to the coniferous forest indicating that the former is functionally more dynamic than the latter. Such dynamism in the broadleaved forest could be an important fac- tor for providing greater ecological services compared to the coniferous forest, which nevertheless requires an in-depth study. Keywords Nitrogen and phosphorus · Litter production and release · Seasonal and annual vaiation · PCA Introduction Litter is a significant component of forest ecosystems that links the plant and soil through the process of litter- fall, decomposition and nutrient release (Santa Regina and Tarazona 2001). It plays a crucial role in forest ecosystem functioning as its production and decomposition provide the essential organic matter in soil and regulate the cycling of nutrients in forest ecosystems (Weltzin et al. 2005). The rates at which these processes occur determine the thickness of the litter layer in the forest (Mcadam et al. 2007). Main- tenance of a thick litter layer along with rapid turnover time plays a signifcant role in plant nutrition (Weerakkody and Parkinson 2006; Leon and Osorio 2014) as dense root sys- tems of plants are developed inside such layers (Tanner et al. 1998). Therefore, nutrient cycling in a forest ecosystem is infuenced by decomposition of fne litter through soil biota that releases nutrients to the soil and infuences forest pro- ductivity (Berg 2000). Thus, the rates of litter production and decomposition are considered as indicators of forest ecosystem health. Litterfall is an important process that governs the car- bon and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems (Odiwe and Muoghalu 2003; Gairola et al. 2009). It has also been sug- gested that forest litter has a signifcant efect on snow albedo, and regulates the responses and feedbacks of ter- restrial ecosystems to climate change (Winkler et al. 2010). Hence, litterfall can be used to measure, model, and predict the dynamics of an ecosystem (Liski et al. 2005). International Society for Tropical Ecology * S. K. Barik sarojkbarik@gmail.com 1 Center for Advanced Studies in Botany, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, India 2 Department of Basic Sciences and Social Sciences, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, India 3 CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow 226001, India