Litter Production in Two Tropical Deciduous Forest Communities at Varanasi, India

Amount of litter (523-2048 kg ha1l) in two stands of tropical deciduous forest near Varanasi, India (24042'-25'50'N, 83022'-83'40'E) showed highest values in the summer (May and June) and minimum in the winter season (December). On an average, it consisted of 29-30% woody and 70-71% leaf material. The total annual litter production was 1527 kg ha1' (leaf 85%, woody 15%) in stand I dominated by Shorea robusta Gaertn. f. and 1826 kg ha-' (leaf 92%, woody 8%) in stand II dominated by Terminalia tomentosa Bedd. In stand I, 60% of the litter production occurred in summer and 40% in the winter season, while the corresponding values in stand II were 75 and 25%. Litter production was negligible in the rainy season. In stand I, S. rubusta (793 kg ha' yr-1) and in stand II, T. tomentosa (860 kg ha1l yr1) were main contributors to the total leaf litter production. Leaf litter production yielded highly significant (P < 0.01) positive correlations with density, frequency and importance values of the various tree species.