Abstract: Litter decomposition plays an important role in the nutrient cycling and energy transfer in forest ecosystems. By using litterbag method, this paper studied the leaf litter decomposition in 2-, 4-, and 6 years old Populus tomentosa pulp plantations under the condition of shallow burial, aimed to realize the scientific management of nutrients and to accelerate the decomposition of leaf litter in triploid P. tomentosa pulp plantations. Shallow burial promoted the leaf litter decomposition significantly, as compared to the decomposition on soil surface. The decomposition rate of the leaf litters in 2-, 4-, and 6 years old P. tomentosa pulp plantations under shallow burial for one year increased significantly, being 130%, 194%, and 186% of that on soil surface, respectively. Compared with the decomposition on soil surface, the days needed for 50% leaf litter decomposition in 2-, 4-, and 6 years old triploid P. tomentosa pulp plantations under shallow burial were shortened by 58%, 39%, and 38%, and those needed for 95% decomposition were shortened by 60%, 38% and 36%, respectively, indicating that the promotion effect of shallow burial on the leaf litter decomposition differed with triploid P. tomentosa plantation age.

Key words: Taiwan red tilapia, Salinity, Body weight, Oxygen consumption