The Journal "Agriculture and Forestry"
Časopis "Poljoprivreda i šumarstvo"
- Since 1955 -
Year 2015, Volume 61 Issue 2
| Year : | 2015 |
| Volume : | 61 |
| Issue : | 2 |
| Authors : | Md. HASANUZZAMAN and Mahmood HOSSAIN |
| Title : | LEAF LITTER DECOMPOSITION AND NUTRIENT DYNAMICS ASSOCIATED WITH COMMON CROPLAND AGROFOREST TIMBER TREE SPECIES OF BANGLADESH |
| Abstract : | Melia azadirachta, Azadirachta indica, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Swietenia macrophylla, Albizia saman, Acacia auriculiformis, Dalbergia sissoo and Khaya anthotheca are the most common cropland agroforest timber species of Bangladesh. This study focused on leaf litter decomposition and soil nutrient (N, P and K) return of these tree species. Leaf litter decomposition rates were determined using the litter bag technique in both dry and wet seasons. Mass loss was highest (70% and 51%) for M. azadirachta followed by A. indica (50% and 63%), D. sissoo (51% and 54%) and the lowest was found for S. macrophylla (26% and 29%) in both dry and wet season respectively over 180 day periods. The rate of decomposition was highest (0.407 g/month) for A. indica followed by M. azadirachta (0.402 g/month) and lowest (0.185 g/month) was observed for S. macrophylla in dry season while the rate of decomposition was found highest (0.530 g/month) for M. azadirachta followed by A. indica (0.480 g/month) and lowest (0.223 g/month) was observed for S. macrophylla in wet season. Significant (p<0.05) differences were observed among mass loss, and N, P and K concentrations of leaf litter between dry and wet seasons, with highest decomposition in wet season. The highest decay constant was observed for M. azadirachta (2.29 and 3.59) followed by A. indica (2.19 and 2.74) and the lowest (1.18 and 1.16) was found for S. macrophylla in dry and wet seasons, respectively. This study showed that, M. azadirachta was the best in terms of nutrient return through leaf litter decomposition followed by A. indica and D. sissoo. |
| For citation : | Md. HASANUZZAMAN and Mahmood HOSSAIN (2015): LEAF LITTER DECOMPOSITION AND NUTRIENT DYNAMICS ASSOCIATED WITH COMMON CROPLAND AGROFOREST TIMBER TREE SPECIES OF BANGLADESH. Agriculture & Forestry, Vol. 61, Issue 2: 125-139, 2015, Podgorica |
| Keywords : | Cropland agroforestry, Decay constant, Decomposition, Leaf litter, Nutrient dynamics. |
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