The effects of nitrogen(N) availability and tree species on the dynamics of carbon and nitrogen at early stage of decomposition of forest litter were studied in a 13-week laboratory incubation experiment.Fresh litter samples including needle litter(Pinus koraiensis) and two types of broadleaf litters(Quercus mongolica and Tilia amurensis) were collected from a broadleaf-korean pine mixed forest in the northern slope of Changbai Mountain(China).Different doses of N(equal to 0, 30 and 50 kg·ha-1yr-1, respectively, as NH4NO3) were added to litter during the experiment period.The litter decomposition rate expressed as mass loss and respiration rate increased significantly with increasing N availability.The mass loss and cumulative CO2-C emission were higher in leaf litter compared to that in needle litter.The dissolved organic Carbon(DOC) concentrations in litter leachate varied widely between the species, but were not greatly affected by N treatments.Regardless of the N addition rate, both N treatments and species had no significant effect on dissolved organic N(DON) concentrations in litter leachate.About 52?78% of added N was retained in the litter.The percentage of N retention was positively correlated(R2=0.91, p<0.05) with the litter mass loss.This suggested that a forest floor with easily decomposed litter might have higher potential N sink strength than that with more slowly decomposed litter.
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