The Relationship of Litterfall to Basal Area and Climatic Variables in the Rhizophora mucronata Lamarck Plantation at Tritih, Central Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Components of litterfall were measured for one year (January to December 1985) at five sites in the Rhizophora mucronata Lamarck plantation at Tritih, in the Rawa Timur forest district, Cilacap. The annual litterfall (t (ha)^<-1>) was 8.193-8.236 in medium R. mucronata stands, 10.395 in a tall R. mucronata stand and 7.058-7.369 in small R. mucronata stands. Significant correlations were found between annual litterfall of individual R. mucronata stands and their respective basal area measured at 30cm above the highest prop root. The seasonal pattern of litterfall was most closely related to total rainfall (r=0.913), mean maximum temperature (r=0.931) and minimum temperature (r=0.932). However, fall of non-leaf materials was also related to the force of the wind run associated with the last monsoon.