Nutrient return of Liquidambar formosana in suburbs of Changsha City

utrient return of Liquidambar formosana plantation was studied by means of field investigation and laboratory analysis in this paper, which could provide theoretical basis for the management of Liquidambar formosana plantation and research of the nutrient cycling. Results showed that: 1) The annual amount of litter in Liquidambar formosana plantation was 4935.6kg/hm², and the amount of each component was in that order: leaf＞branches＞fruit＞debris. 2) The annual nutrient return amount of litter was 111.849kg/hm². The order of return amount of each element was N＞Ca＞K＞Mg＞P. The return amount of litter in each component was in that order: leaf＞branch＞fruit＞debris. 3) The annual return amount of leaching nutrients was 105.823kg/hm². The order of each leaching element was Ca＞K＞Mg＞P＞N. 4) The total annual nutrient return amount in Liquidambar formosana plantation was up to 217.672kg/hm². The order of each return element was Ca＞N＞K＞Mg＞P. It can be concluded that the return of nutrients of litter through rainfall leaching can not be ignored in rainy subtropical area.