Litter fall and decomposition trend of jatropha curcas L. leaves mulches under two environmental conditions

Abugre, Simon; Oti-Boateng, C.

doi:10.5251/abjna.2011.2.3.462.470

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…According to the same study by Abugre et al [19], after 120 days of decomposition, between 2.45 and 34.6% carbon is still left from Jatropha curcas litterfall. The large difference in the decomposition rate is due to the difference in sunlight exposure on the litterfall [20].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

PlantingJatropha curcason Constrained Land: Emission and Effects from Land Use Change

Firdaus

Husni

2012

The Scientific World Journal

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A study was carried out to assess carbon emission and carbon loss caused from land use change (LUC) of converting a wasteland into a Jatropha curcas plantation. The study was conducted for 12 months at a newly established Jatropha curcas plantation in Port Dickson, Malaysia. Assessments of soil carbon dioxide (CO2) flux, changes of soil total carbon and plant biomass loss and growth were made on the wasteland and on the established plantation to determine the effects of land preparation (i.e., tilling) and removal of the wasteland's native vegetation. Overall soil CO2 flux showed no significant difference (P < 0.05) between the two plots while no significant changes (P < 0.05) on soil total carbon at both plots were detected. It took 1.5 years for the growth of Jatropha curcas to recover the biomass carbon stock lost during land conversion. As far as the present study is concerned, converting wasteland to Jatropha curcas showed no adverse effects on the loss of carbon from soil and biomass and did not exacerbate soil respiration.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

PlantingJatropha curcason Constrained Land: Emission and Effects from Land Use Change

Firdaus

Husni

2012

The Scientific World Journal

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“…Differences in leaf biomass that is size and number [29,40], tree crown architecture and phenology [38,41] amongst tree species are some of the factors found to influence amounts of leaf fall. The higher amounts of leaf fall registered in the dry season as compared to the wet season could be attributed to harsh climatic conditions of high temperatures, wind speed, low precipitation, low soil moisture and atmospheric humidity that increase natural leaf senescence [27,28,41,42]. Leaf litter-fall was noted to have decreased with increasing pruning intensity for all the selected tree species (Table 2).…”

Section: Leaf Fall and Pruned Leaf Biomassmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Leaf litter fall was collected from the three pruning regimes (0%, 25% and 50%) using the litter trap technique [14,27,28]. To collect the falling leaves, a 1m × 1 m trap was constructed from a strong nylon mesh suspended on a frame of four wooden pole stands erected, 0.90m above the ground (Figure 1).…”

Section: Leaf Litter Fall Collection and Measurementmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Canopy management, leaf fall and litter quality of dominant tree species in the banana agroforestry system in Uganda

Nyombi¹,

Ssebulime²,

Kagezi³

et al. 2018

AJFAND

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Small-scale farmers in the banana-coffee agro-zone of Central Uganda plant and maintain trees to provide a range of benefits. However, the impact of trees on soil fertility and crop yields is small. On many farms, trees exist in infinite numbers, compositions, with no proper spacing, sequencing and canopy management recommendations. The objectives of this study were to: quantify and compare leaf fall and leaf litter biomass for the dominant tree species subjected to different pruning regimes and during different seasons and determine the nutrient concentrations in leaf litter materials in order to assess their potential to improve soil fertility. A survey was conducted on 30 randomly selected farms to examine and document the tree species. Four tree species were dominant; Ficus natalensis (15.3%), Albizia coriaria (10.2%), Artocarpus heterophyllus (10.0%) and Mangifera indica (9.2%). Experiments such as canopy pruning, collecting leaf fall and weights of pruned leaf biomass were established for the four dominant trees on five randomly selected farms. A total of 120 trees were subjected to three pruning regimes (0%, 25% and 50%). Litter traps (1 m × 1 m) were placed 2 m from the tree trunk to collect falling leaves. Leaf biomass was collected from pruned branches and weighed. Leaf samples were collected from pruned leaves and a composite sample analysed for carbon and nutrient concentrations. Results showed that 40 tree and shrub species belonging to 21 families existed on farms. Leaf fall was highest in the dry season and A. Heterophyllus registered the highest amount. Leaf biomass from pruned trees was heaviest for M. indica (42.4 ±3 kg) in the wet season and at the 50% pruning regime (45.7± 2.1kg). Total nutrient concentrations were in the order A. coriaria>F. natalensis>A.heterophyllus>M.indica. We concluded that F. natalensis and A. Coriaria should be integrated more into the agroforestry system to improve soil fertility. A.heterophyllus and M.indica should be planted on farm boundaries. The 50% pruning regime was the best and should be carried out during the wet season.

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“…The timing for the incorporation of the dry leaf mulch into the soil was based on work by Abugre et al (2011) who reported that in Ghana 50 % decomposition of jatropha leaf litter was obtained after 25 days in an open canopy and 32 days in a closed canopy. In total 97 % to 99 % of leaf litter had decomposed after 120 days, which was consistent with the maize nutrient requirements.…”

Section: Fertility Competition and Interaction Effects Of Jatropha mentioning

confidence: 99%

Is there life after hype for Jatropha? Exploring growth and yield in Indonesia

Tjeuw

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at 11 a.m. in the Aula. AbstractJatropha curcas L. is a biofuel crop that has not lived up to expectations due to a combination of hype and disappointment and biophysical factors. This PhD thesis is based on the plant production component of the JARAK programme which aimed to bridge the gap between truth and fiction. This study reviewed the jatropha hype and disappointment and further investigated the hypothesis that jatropha growth and yield are limited by biophysical factors of plant characteristics, cropping systems, and management. My review of the hype and disappointment shows that despite the high expectations fuelled by market pull and technology push, and numerous actors, the commercial potential for jatropha is limited by policy and governance, economics, social, technology, logistical, and environmental. A study of the biophysical components confirms that no current varieties suited to different cropping systems and locations are available. Jatropha aboveground biomass is partitioned predominantly into a structure of stem, branches, and twigs. The below to aboveground biomass ratio was 0.5 and fruit which was found only on productive twigs accounted for the smallest portion of biomass measured. Seed yields were disappointingly small (109 kg ha -1 ) and were largest in monoculture, followed by intercropping and hedgerows in that order, although yields were influenced by age and management of pruning and fertiliser. Seed yield across the three cropping systems can be predicted using plant height and the number of productive twig/branch, although the number of inflorescence clusters per productive twig may be important. Intercropping between jatropha and maize (Zea mays L.) resulted in competition for resources both belowground and aboveground that reduced maize yields. Shoot pruning was effective in managing aboveground competition, while root pruning and root barriers effectively managed competition belowground. Leaf prunings provided a limited, but positive fertility effect on maize yield comparable to 21 kg N ha -1. Jatropha -maize intercropping has potential for long-term productivity provided management practices such as fertiliser, pruning, and planting density can be developed to minimise competition and enhance complementarity. Based on my review of the jatropha hype and disappointment and my biophysical research results, the planting of jatropha by smallholders, or as a plantation crop cannot be recommended. Once the issues I highlight have been resolved and market confidence restored, jatropha may finally become a commercial source of biodiesel able to provide improved socio-economic and environmental benefits.

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Litter fall and decomposition trend of jatropha curcas L. leaves mulches under two environmental conditions

Cited by 15 publications

References 21 publications

PlantingJatropha curcason Constrained Land: Emission and Effects from Land Use Change

PlantingJatropha curcason Constrained Land: Emission and Effects from Land Use Change

Canopy management, leaf fall and litter quality of dominant tree species in the banana agroforestry system in Uganda

Is there life after hype for Jatropha? Exploring growth and yield in Indonesia

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