Nutrient Dynamics and Litter Decomposition in <i>Leucaena leucocephala</i> (Lam.) De Wit plantation in the Nigerian Derived Savanna

Abstract

Nutrient contents and rate of litter decomposition were investigated in Leucaena leucocephala plantation in the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Litter bag technique was used to study the pattern and rate of litter decomposition and nutrient release of Leucaena leucocephala. Fifty grams of oven-dried leaf litter of the species was weighed into 0.2 mm mesh litter bag, 35 cm × 25 cm in size, these bags were closed at all ends. Eighteen litter bags were used for the studies. The litter bags were numbered and placed on the field (above ground) on 26th April 2005. Three bags were retrieved randomly from the field at 20-day intervals for 120 days. The nutrient concentration in L. leucocephala followed the trend N > P > Mg > Ca > K > Na for leaf litter and seed components. Nutrient concentration in twigs and pods ranked N > Mg > P > Ca > K > Na. Among all the litter components, leaf litter contributed more nutrients, especially nitrogen, than other litter components. High potassium concentration during the dry season was due to lack of rainfall to leach out the element. Lower magnesium content in leaf litter was due to chlorophyll decay. High N-flux reflected the quantity and quality of nitrogen in the soil. Mass loss was significantly correlated with calcium (P < 0.05). At 120 days, 80% of the litter had decomposed; this implies that decomposition rate was at 0.6% per day. A net immobilization of all the nutrient elements at 20 days was due to lack of rainfall to leach out the nutrients. High rate of decomposition at the early stage was due to less moisture content in the soil and high temperature. Litter decomposed more during the wet season than the dry season.

Seasonal patterns in decomposition and nutrient release from East African savanna grasses grown under contrasting nutrient conditions

“…In addition, most studies involved leguminous forbs and trees (Fornara and Du Toit, 2008;Fosu et al, 2007;Jama and Nair, 1996;Mafongoya et al, 1997;Mugendi and Nair, 1997;Mugendi et al, 1999;Oladoye et al, 2008), and few included grasses (Deshmukh, 1985;Ohiagu and Wood, 1979), even though grasses dominate the aboveground biomass of savanna ecosystems (Bond, 2008). Finally, few studies have examined the role of nutrients in determining the decomposition rates of tropical savanna grasses, yet foliar nutrients can have a marked impact on litter decomposition in other ecosystems such as temperate grassland (Kochy and Wilson, 1997;Moretto et al, 2001), tundra (Bryant et al, 1997;Hobbie and Gough, 2004), temperate forest (Melillo et al, 1982), montane forests (Hobbie and Vitousek, 2000) and tropical forests (Gonzalez and Seastedt, 2001;Kaspari et al, 2008).…”

The Role of Quantitative Traits of Leaf Litter on Decomposition and Nutrient Cycling of the Forest Ecosystems

“…Litter decomposition is the main way of transfer of organic matter and mineral elements from vegetation to the soil surface (Vitousek and Sanford 1986;Moraes et al 1999;Berg and McClaugherty 2008;Oladoye et al 2008). Plant production depends on the recycling of nutrients within the system; recycling depends on the decomposition of organic matter and release of the nutrients it contains (Temel 2003).…”

Decomposition of Oil Palm Frond and Leaflet Residues

“…The frond and leaflet residues during decomposition, release some essential nutrients which are needed by oil palm and has potential to reduce the fertilizer uses (Singh, Sulaiman, Hashim, Peng, & Singh, 2013). The amount and degree of nutrients release depend on various factors such as: oil palm residue type, climate, soil microbial activities, and the nutrients concentrations of residue (Brady & Weil, 2001;Karberg, Scott, & Giardina, 2008;Oladoye, Ola-Adams, Adedire, & Agboola, 2008).…”