THE NUTRIENT STATUS OF THE PLATEAU HEATH FOREST ON GUNUNG KERIONG, PAHANG, PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Abstract

Foliage from six species (Dacrydium beccarii, Eugenia caudata, Eugenia stapfiana, Euncoma Inngifolia, Ficus deltoidea and Podocarpus neriifolius, leaf litter and mineral soil (0 - 20 cm) samples were collected for elemental analysis from the heath forest growing on the summit plateau of Gunung Keriong on the southern border of Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia. The leaves of the trees (Ficus deltoidea being an epiphytic shrub') were generally small in size and sclerophyllous with a notably low foliar nitrogen concentration. The mineral soil was strongly acidic (pH in water of 4.04) and low in total N, P and K, but not extremely so. These analyses were similar to other published data for heath forests in Southeast Asia.