A COMPARISON OF METHODS FOR DETERMINING PROXIMATE CARBON FRACTIONS OF FOREST LITTER

Ten forest litters with decomposition state varying from 16.6-100% weight remaining were partitioned into subsamples; each subsample was analyzed for proximate carbon fractions using either forage fiber or forest products analysis. Proximate carbon fractions from the simpler forage fiber techniques accurately estimated extractives, cellulose, lignin and acid-hydrolyzed carbohydrates determined by the more complex forest products analyses. Decomposition state accounted for most of the residual variance and significantly improved predictive equations for lignin and extractives. The relationship between proximate carbon fractions from the different techniques also varied somewhat among wood, hardwood leaves and conifer leaves; but variations were minor relative to the overall trend. -from Authors