The present study is an attempt to understand the role of Nepalese alder (Alnus nepalensis D. Don) in litter production, leaf litter decomposition, leaf area index (LAI) and rate of forest floor respiration as indicators of carbon flux in white oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus) forests. Five forest stands of oak mixed alder (OMA) and five oak without alder (OWA) were selected along a basal area gradient under similar ecological conditions in Indian central Himalaya. We estimated monthly variations in litterfall, leaf litter decomposition and leaf area index (LAI) in Q. leucotrichophora and A. nepalensis in OMA and OWA stands. Soil and litter CO₂ effluxes were estimated seasonally using the soda-lime absorption method. The seasonal pattern of litterfall showed a bimodal trend in OMA and unimodal trend in OWA forest stands. Forest floor biomass (leaf, twig, reproductive parts, herbaceous and miscellaneous litter) was highest in summer (707–1080 g/m²) followed by winter (414–678 g/m²) and rainy (281–541 g/m²) seasons in OMA stands. In OWA stands, forest floor biomass was highest in summer (463–646 g/m²) followed by rainy (321–411 g/m²) and winter (149–279 g/m²) seasons. Total litter production, leaf litter decomposition rates, change in LAI and soil respiration were significantly higher (p < 0.01) for OMA stands than OWA stands. The maximum annual LAI _max ranged from 4.10 to 6.78 m² m⁻² in OMA stands and from 1.9 to 3.06 m² m⁻² in OWA stands. Total soil respiration (TSR), litter-free soil respiration (LFSR) and litter respiration (LR) were also higher (p < 0.01) in OMA compared to OWA stands. Mean rate of TSR, LFSR, and LR was 280.18 mg m⁻²h⁻¹, 180.45 mg m⁻²h⁻¹, and 46.40 mg m⁻²h⁻¹ in OMA and 188.46 mg m⁻²h⁻¹, 150.1 mg m⁻²h⁻¹, 38.35 mg m⁻²h⁻¹, respectively, in OWA stands and for both recorded highest in monsoon season. The results indicate that A. nepalensis enhances litter production, LAI, leaf litter decomposition, and forest floor respiration in the oak forests, which in turn would result in increased carbon flux.

本研究是为了了解尼桤木的作用（旱冬瓜在垫料的生产，落叶层分解，叶面积指数（LAI）和森林地板呼吸如白橡木碳通量的指标的速率D.唐）（栎leucotrichophora A.加缪）森林。在印度中部喜马拉雅山，在相似的生态条件下，沿着一个基地面积梯度，选择了五个混交der木（OMA）和五个不混der木（OWA）的林分。我们估计在每月凋落物的变化，凋落物的分解和叶面积指数（LAI）在Q. leucotrichophora和A.冬瓜在OMA和OWA代表。土壤和垃圾CO ₂使用钠钙吸收法按季节估算外排量。凋落物的季节格局显示OMA呈双峰趋势，OWA林分呈单峰趋势。在夏季（707-1080 g / m ²）和冬季（414-678 g / m ²）和雨季（281-541 g / m），森林地表生物量（叶，嫩枝，生殖部分，草本和杂物）最高。²）在OMA摊位的季节。在OWA林分中，夏季（463–646 g / m ²）的森林地面生物量最高，其次是雨天（321–411 g / m ²）和冬季（149–279 g / m ^2））的季节。与OWA林分相比，OMA林分的总凋落物产量，叶片凋落物分解速率，LAI和土壤呼吸的变化均显着更高（p <0.01）。OMA林分的最大年度LAI _max为4.10至6.78 m ² m ^-2，而OWA林分的最大年度LAI _max为1.9至3.06 m ² m ^-2。与OWA林分相比，OMA的总土壤呼吸（TSR），无垃圾土壤呼吸（LFSR）和垃圾呼吸（LR）也更高（p <0.01）。TSR，LFSR，和LR的平均速率为280.18毫克米^-2 ħ ^-1，180.45毫克米^-2 ħ ^-1，和46.40毫克米^-2 ħ ^-1在OMA和188.46毫克米^-2 ħ ^-1，150.1毫克米^-2 ħ ^-1，38.35毫克米^-2 ħ ^-1，分别在OWA代表和两个记录在雨季最高。结果表明，尼泊尔栎提高了橡树林的凋落物产量，LAI，凋落物分解和林地呼吸，进而导致碳通量增加。