Nutrient uptake and return of early-spring herbs in broadleaved Korean pine forest in Changbai Mountains

To clarify the nutrient cycling function of early-spring herbs in broadleaved Korean pine forest in Changbai Mountains, their nutrient uptake and return were studied, based on the investigation of their growth rhythm. The results showed that the biomass of the early-spring herbs was 588. 744 kg · hm^-2, occupying 0.279% of the total biomass of the broadleaved Korean pine forest. The quantity of N, P and K absorbed by the early-spring herbs was 14.916, 3.078 and 7.292 kg · hm^-2, respectively, Gagea lutea had the highest decomposition rate (0.085 g · g^-1 · d^-1), and the duration for its complete decomposition was only 33 days, while Anemone amurensis had the lowest decomposition rate (0.058 g · g^-1 · d^-1), and its complete decomposition needed 49 days. Early-spring herbs linked up the nutrient flow between winter and spring, and returned back the absorbed nutrients during the growth periods of other plant species, playing an important role in maintaining the continuity of matter flow and energy flow in forest ecosystem.