Abstract: In this study, Quercus liaotungensis seeds were released on the ground of a Larix principis-rupprechtii plantation in Liupan Mountains, and an investigation was conducted on the seed predation and removal by animals in the treatments litter elimination, litter cover, and soil cover, taking no litter elimination and releasing seeds directly to the ground as the control. After 3 days of release, the retention rate of Q. liaotungensis seeds in treatments litter cover and soil cover was 10.7% and 7.0%, respectively. After 14 days of release, the retention rate of the seeds (0.7%) was highest in treatment of soil cover, but null in treatment litter cover. In treatments litter cover and soil cover, the in situ eaten rates of the seeds was quite high (45.9% and 41.5%, respectively), but in treatment litter elimination, the in situ eaten rates of the seeds was the lowest (27.0%) whereas the eaten rate after removal was the highest (49.8%). The burial rate of the seeds in treatments litter elimination, litter cover, and soil cover after removal by animals was significantly higher than that of the control (P<0.01). The seeds after the removal were mainly distributed in the areas with a distance of 5 m, especially <1 m and 1-2 m, from the original places. The mean distance of the seeds eaten after the removal was longer than that of the seeds buried after removal, with the maximum being 2.38 m ± 0.55 m and 1.44 m ± 0.26 m, respectively.

Key words: Cotton, NH₄⁺, NO₃^-, Nitrogen, Metabolism