A COMPARISON OF FOLIAR NUTRIENT CONCENTRATION IN TREES FROM MONSOON RAIN-FOREST AND SAVANNA IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

Analysis of foliar nutrient concentrations revealed that two mesophyll ic monsoon rainforest trees had higher concentrations of most nutrient s in leaves than eight savanna species. One of the rested monsoon rain forest species with sclerophyllous leaves had similar nutrient concent rations to the savanna tree species. There were positive or no signifi cant correlations between live foliar nutrient concentration and the p ercentage of nutrients withdrawn prior to litterfall. The nutrient con centration of litter was similar for most nutrients among tree species of monsoon rainforest or savanna. The results of this study suggest t hat the relative fertility of surface soils of monsoon rainforest comp ared with savanna is not determined by contrasting nutrient cycling st rategies whereby monsoon rainforest tree species enrich their soils wi th relatively nutrient rich leaf litter relative to savanna tree speci es.