Fuel Briquettes from Sal (Shorea robusta) Forest Litter as an  Alternative Cooking Fuel

Sal (Shorea robusta) forest leaf litter strongly influences seed germination and seedling survivorship. Therefore, it is crucial to open up the litter layer in such a forest with abundant leaf litter. Briquetting of Sal forest leaf litter can be an option for its management and meet the increasing energy demand. This research work is performed to quantify the amount of Sal forest litter and study the briquette’s combustion properties. The study was carried out in the Namuna Community Forest of Jhapa district. The average weight of leaf litter in the field was observed to be 851 g/m2 . Five varieties of briquettes were produced using different briquetting technologies. Proximate analysis results, calorific value and water boiling tests show these briquettes have good fuel characteristics and can be used as alternative cooking fuel.

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Comparative allelopathic effects of mango, litchi, sal forest leaf litter on the germination and seedling growth of rice (Oryza sativa)

Annals of Plant Sciences ◽

10.21746/aps.2016.08.001 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 (08) ◽

pp. 1392

Author(s):

Menovikho Hoshi ◽

Kamla Dhyani ◽

Shweta Sahni ◽

Chhaya Singh*

Keyword(s):

Leaf Litter ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Forest Litter ◽

Forest Tree ◽

The Other ◽

Shoot Dry Weight ◽

Sal Forest ◽

Phytotoxic Effect ◽

Leaf Powder ◽

Forest Leaf Litter

The present investigation is carried out to study the effect of leaf litter extract on the other crop. Allelopathic is the, phytotoxic effect of plants leaf on the other plants is well known. Some plants whether orchard crop or forest trees releases some chemicals which effects negatively sometimes positively to the growth of the other plants. In the present study it was studied that how the soil treated with leaf litter powder of trees (Litchi, Mango, Forest tree) is effected the growth and development of other plant. In an orchard generally leaf litter is the important source of allelochemicals in the soil. Litchi, Mango and forest litter all inhibit the growth of the test crop(Rice) but maximum inhibition is recorded by Litchi leaf powder treatment followed by mango and Forest whether Agriculture soil is treated as control in this case. Germination %, MDA content, Root shoot dry weight is highly affected but chlorophyll was maximum recorded from litchi leaf treatment.

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High-output suspended mega-sifter for sampling forest litter mesofauna

Fragmenta Entomologica ◽

10.4081/fe.2016.183 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 123

Author(s):

Vasily V. Grebennikov

Keyword(s):

Leaf Litter ◽

Forest Litter ◽

Forest Leaf Litter ◽

High Output

A novel mega-sifter suspended from trees and designed to quickly process large amount of forest leaf litter in search of mesofana is illustrated and discussed.

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Properties of briquettes and pellets of pine needles from Hattiban Community Forest, Kathmandu, Nepal

Nepal Journal of Environmental Science ◽

10.3126/njes.v6i0.30115 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Anu Radha Baral ◽

Krishna Raj Shrestha

Keyword(s):

High Pressure ◽

Thermal Efficiency ◽

Research Work ◽

Calorific Value ◽

Proximate Analysis ◽

Pine Needles ◽

Average Weight ◽

Community Forest ◽

Heating Value ◽

Combustion Properties

Biomass is the most utilized primary energy source in context of Nepal. Briquetting of pine needles can be an option for natural resource management. This research work was carried out to quantify the amount of pine needles during the fall season and to study the combustion properties, performance and emission of the briquette produced. The study was carried out in Hattiban Community Forest of Kathmandu district. In order to quantify the pine needle, simple random sampling was used. The average weight of needles in field was observed to be 751g m-2. Altogether, four types of briquettes and two types of pellets were produced using different binders and various briquetting technologies. Proximate analysis was carried out following the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS 8812) and the calorific value test was done using Toshniwal Digital Bomb Calorimeter. The result from the proximate analysis showed higher (32.93%) amount of ash content of beehive briquette. Calorific value test of the fuel showed that high pressure pellets had the higher heating value (5555.1 kcal kg-1) and beehive had the lower heating value (3801.4076 kcal kg-1). The water boiling test reveals that thermal efficiency of the stove was highest (39.1%) when operated with high pressure pellet and low (24.76%) for charcoal pellets. Except high pressure pellets, other briquettes and pellets exceeded the safe limit of carbon monoxide and particulate matter emission given by National Indoor Air Quality Standard. Fuel characteristics like high thermal efficiency, high calorific value and proximate value obtained from present analysis shows pine needles can be used as appropriate and sustainable source of energy.

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Effects of smelter pollutants on forest leaf litter decomposition near a nickel–copper smelter at Sudbury, Ontario

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b80-200 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 58 (15) ◽

pp. 1722-1736 ◽

Cited By ~ 141

Author(s):

B. Freedman ◽

T. C. Hutchinson

Keyword(s):

Leaf Litter ◽

Litter Decomposition ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Forest Litter ◽

Copper Smelter ◽

Contaminated Sites ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Nickel Copper ◽

Forest Leaf Litter ◽

And Control

Forest soils and litter in the vicinity of a large nickel–copper smelter at Sudbury, Ont. are known to be contaminated with a variety of heavy metals. In view of this, studies were carried out to determine if forest litter decomposition processes have been affected. The effects of nickel and copper on the decomposition of forest litter were investigated using a variety of techniques in which contaminated and control sites were compared. At contaminated sites an increase in litter standing crop was found. This was related to lower rates of litter decomposition at these sites, as evidenced by reduced rates of breakdown of litter in mesh bags, compared with uncontaminated sites. Lower rates of CO2 flux and acid phosphatase activity were also found at the contaminated sites. In a laboratory experiment, the addition of copper and (or) nickel to a homogenate of leaf litter was shown to depress the rate of dry weight loss and CO2 flux. Negative effects commenced at metal concentrations comparable to those observed in litter at contaminated sites in the field.

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Structure and Regeneration of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) Forests in Shiwalik Region of Kumaun Himalaya, India

Indian Journal of Forestry ◽

10.54207/bsmps1000-2017-0n83l0 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Bhawna Adhikari ◽

◽

Bhawana Kapkoti ◽

Neelu Lodhiyal ◽

L.S. Lodhiyal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Basal Area ◽

Tree Canopy ◽

Canopy Density ◽

Kumaun Himalaya ◽

Shorea Robusta ◽

Canopy Trees ◽

Dense Forest ◽

Open Forest ◽

Sal Forest

Present study was carried out to assess the structure and regeneration of Sal forests in Shiwalik region of Kumaun Himalaya. Vegetation analysis and tree canopy density was determined by using quadrat and densitometer, respectively. Density of seedlings, saplings and trees was 490-14067, 37-1233, and 273-863 ind.ha-1 respectively. The basal area was 0.12-5.44 m2 ha-1 reported for saplings and 25.4-77.6 m2 ha-1 for trees. Regeneration of Sal was found good in Sal mixed dense forest followed by Sal open forest and Sal dense forest, respectively. Regeneration of Sal was assisted by the presence of associated tree species as well as the sufficient sunlight availability on ground due to adequate opening of canopy trees in Sal forest. Thus it is concluded that the density of tree canopy, sunlight availability and also associated tree species impacted the regeneration of Sal in the region.

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Influence of saprophages (Isopoda, Diplopoda) on leaf litter decomposition under different levels of humidification and chemical loading

Biosystems Diversity ◽

10.15421/012049 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 384-389

Author(s):

A. P. Pokhylenko ◽

O. O. Didur ◽

Y. L. Kulbachko ◽

L. P. Bandura ◽

S. A. Chernykh

Keyword(s):

Leaf Litter ◽

Litter Decomposition ◽

Zinc Content ◽

Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽

Absolute Difference ◽

Average Weight ◽

Chemical Stress ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

The Common ◽

Different Levels

The paper presents a study about the influence of two saprophage groups (Isopoda, Diplopoda) on leaf litter decomposition under different levels of humidification and chemical stress. Because of their worldwide distribution, we focused on the common pillbug Armadillidium vulgare (Latreille, 1804) (Isopoda, Armadillidiidae), and the common millipede species Rossiulus kessleri (Lohmander, 1927) (Julida, Julidae). The function of environment creation by the given saprophages, as destructors of dead plant matter, supporting such ecosystem services as soil fertility improvement and nutrients’ turnover, is highlighted. To conduct the experiment, the animals were collected manually and using pitfall trapping. In order to bring the experimental conditions closer to the natural, the individuals were not sexed. The maximum consumption of leaf litter by woodlice was recorded in the conditions with adequate moisture (0.5 mL of distilled water per box) and amounted to 2.52 mg/10 individuals per day, which exceeds its consumption with low and increased moisture, respectively, by 1.82 and 1.24 times. As for the effect of interaction, the consumption of maple litter with optimal moisture (4.77 mg/10 individuals per day) was the greatest. The largest absolute difference between broad-leaved tree species in the average weight of leaf litter consumed by woodlice was between maple leaf litter and oak leaf litter, the minimum – between robinia leaf litter and oak leaf litter. According to the results of the obtained data (Diplopoda), it can be stated that there is a statistically significant effect of chemical stress and discrepancy of the average zinc content in the object of study (in Diplopoda and their faecal pellets). We found that the diet provided did not affect the distribution of zinc in Diplopoda under conditions of chemical stress. According to the results of pairwise comparisons, we determined that the zinc content in the Diplopoda clearly differs for control and almost every concentration of zinc sulfate solution – 0.03 and 0.15 g/L, the samples of which do not form a homogeneous group. The species composition, abundance and distribution in space of soil invertebrates are informative indicators which reflect the ecological state of soils, intensity in development of soil horizons as well as intensity of processes occurring in them.

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Litter-Fall Production, Decomposition and Elemental (Ca, K, Mn, Fe, Zn and Co) Cycling in Deciduous Sal (Shorea Robusta) Forest in Bangladesh

10.21203/rs.3.rs-189589/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Razia Sultana ◽

ASM Saifullah ◽

Rahat Khan Khan ◽

Mir Talas Mahammad Diganta

Keyword(s):

Leaf Litter ◽

Plant Species ◽

Deciduous Forest ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Nutrient Release ◽

Tectona Grandis ◽

Sampling Period ◽

Litter Production ◽

Shorea Robusta ◽

Terminalia Bellirica

Abstract The litters in the forest floor are the principal contributor for regulating the cycling of necessary elements, primary productivity and maintain soil fertility within the forest ecosystems. Therefore, this study was conducted in a deciduous forest of Bangladesh to ascertain the leaf-litter production and decomposition along with elemental dynamics (K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co and Zn). Leaf-litter samples from five deciduous plant species and soil samples were collected from the Madhupur Sal Forest for about six months (July-December) in 2018. Production of leaf-litter during the dry season (December) was found in an order of Shorea robusta>Dipterocarpus indicus>Terminalia bellirica>Tectona grandis>Grewia microcos. The decomposition rates were higher for the long sampling period (90 days) followed by the intermediate (60 days)> short(30 days) sampling period. The nutrient release pattern from the leaf-litter was similar (Ca>K>Mn>Fe>Zn>Co) for all plant species except for Terminalia bellirica and Tectona grandis. The Pearson correlation coefficients showed a significant relationship between K and Fe (r=0.54; p<0.05), Ca and Co (r=0.59; p<0.01), Fe and Co (r=0.97; p<0.05) in leaf-litters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant variation in the litter production, decomposition and nutrient content (except Zn; p>0.05) among the different plant species (p<0.05). There revealed a significant dynamic of necessary elements from soil to trees and vice-versa.

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The influence of forest-forming tree species on diversity and spatial distribution of algae in forest litter

Folia Oecologica ◽

10.2478/foecol-2018-0008 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 45 (2) ◽

pp. 72-81 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yevhen Maltsev ◽

Irina Maltseva

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Leaf Litter ◽

Green Algae ◽

Tree Species ◽

Spatial Organization ◽

Forest Litter ◽

Equal Distribution ◽

Blue Green Algae ◽

Different Types ◽

The Relationship

Abstract The forest litter plays a significant role in forest ecosystems. The composition of the litter biota comprises micro- and mesofauna, and a great diversity of microorganisms, including unrecognized algae (eukaryotic representatives and Cyanoprokaryota). The aim of this work was to study the diversity of algae in the different types of forest litters and to clarify the relationship between the algae composition and the forest-forming tree species. Our results show that the pine forest litter is the most appropriate habitat for the development of green and yellow-green algae and that this litter type limits the variety of blue-green ones. The admixture of deciduous leaf litter to pine litter caused an increase in the species richness of blue-green algae and diatoms. The algae were unevenly distributed across the sub-horizons of pine litter. The highest species richness of algae was identified in the enzymatic sub-horizon of litter. The peculiarity of the composition of leaf litter algae was a significant variety of green, yellow-green and blue-green algae. The spatial organization of algae communities in the leaf litter was characterized by equal distribution of algae species in the litter-subhorizons.

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