Abstract: To understand the characteristics of nutrient leaching of litter and its affecting factors in the water conservation forests, we investigated the leaching of litter C, N and P of typical forests (Acer mono, Quercus mongolica, Larix olgensis, and Pinus koraiensis forest) in the upper reaches of Taizi River, eastern Liaoning Mountain area and the effects of solution pH, temperature, and leaching time on it. The results showed that the total leaching amount of total C, N, and P accounted for 0.24%-1.28% of the dry mass and there were significant differences (P<0.05) in the leaching rate and leaching amount from litter among different vegetations, with the order on the leaching amount of Acer mono>Pinus koraiensis>Quercus mongolica>Larix olgensis. The TP leaching (47.71 mg·kg^-1) was higher in Acer mono litter than other species. There was the lowest NO₃^--N (14.95 mg·kg^-1) and TN release (82.50 mg·kg^-1) in Larix olgensis litter among the four vegetations. The litter TN and TP release was increased with decreasing pH value and the DOC, TN and TP release from litter was increased with rising temperature. The optimal temperature for the litter NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^--N release differed among four vegetation types. The time when leaching reached stable was 12-24 h, whereas Quercus mongolica litter took a longer time on NH₄⁺-N, NO₃^--N and TN leaching than the others. Our results provided a basis for better understanding the characteristics of nutrient leaching from litter.

Key words: endophytic fungi, diversity, community structure, Taxus chinensis var. mairei, ITS.