We measured net primary productivity, annual accumulation of organic carbon and leaf
decomposition of Salix community in the flood plain of the Han River and the Nakdong River. Net
primary productivity, annual accumulation of organic carbon of the Salix community were
22.5ton/ha/yr(16.7ton/ha/yr-31.2ton/ha/yr) and 9.7ton C/ha/yr(7.5ton C/ha/yr-14.0ton C/ha/yr)
respectively, which showed the highest values among the woody plant communities reported in the
Korea. It means that planting Salix in the flood plain of the river is the best way to remove carbon
dioxides. The faster leaf decomposition occurred around, under and the herb of Salix community in
order. Leaf decomposition rate of Salix was higher than that of mesophytes, but lower than that of
hydrophytes.
Keywords : Salix community, Net primary productivity, Organic carbon, Leaf decomposition