Table 3.

Decomposition rates (k) and half-life of litter of South African fynbos and renosterveld species

Species	Vegetation type	k value (day−1)	Half-life (days)	Source
Galenia africana	Renosterveld	0.00674	101	1
Elythropappus rhinocerotis	Renosterveld	0.00222	308	1
Watsonia borbonica	Fynbos/renosterveld	0.00029	2,032	1
Leucospermum parile	Lowland fynbos	0.00080	887	2
Leucospermum parile	Lowland fynbos	0.00065	1,062	3
Pterocelastrus tricuspidatus	Strandveld	0.00051	1,366	3
Protea repens	Lowland fynbos	0.00013	5,161	4
Protea repens	Mountain fynbos	0.00018	3,778	4

Data from this study (1) and the literature (2–4)

1 this study; 2 Mitchell et al. (1986). Calculated from data on ash-free dry mass loss; 3 Witkowski (1991). Calculated from turnover time; 4 Mitchell and Coley (1987). Calculated from dry mass half-life