Litterfall and Nutrient Returns in the Rainforest of Southwestern Cameroon: Some Implications for Tropical Forest Productivity

Understanding litterfall and macronutrients in the rainforest ecosystem gives baseline information on nutrient dynamics. Litterfall and macronutrients return were studied for 12 months from November 2011 to October 2012 in a 50 ha plot in the Takamanda National Park, South-western Cameroon. This study evaluates the pattern and quantity of litterfall, with implications for forest productivity. It thus assesses the macronutrient concentrations, nutrient inputs into the surface soil, nutrient retranslocation by some key tree species and some physicochemical properties of the soil in the study site. Litter traps where placed randomly in the study plot. Litter was collected every fortnight sorted and air-dried after which they were oven dried at 70°C to constant weight. Soils were sampled from three flanks at depths of 0-10cm, 10-20cm and 20-30cm. Percentage retranslocation or accumulation before leaf fall was calculated from freshly fallen litter and mature green leaf. Total annual litterfall was 5.46 t/ha/yr and this varied with the seasons. Leaf litter contributed 90.9% of total litterfall. The concentration of N and Ca was higher than other nutrient elements Mg, K, P in all litter fragments. Nitrogen had the highest total nutrient input with the following pattern N>Ca>K>Mg>P (85.36 kg/ha/yr> 56.71 kg/ha/yr> 23.1 kg/ha/yr> 17.32 kg/ha/yr> 4.27 kg/ha/yr) respectively.Pterocarpus soyauxii had the highest retranslocation percentages for all the macronutrients studied compared to Afziliabipidensis and Terminalia ivorensis. It was observed that Terminalia ivorensis could be a good nutrient recycler that could be used to improve on degraded soils. It was however observed that Ca and Mg tend to accumulate in leaf litter for all the three species.

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Nutrient Uptake and Agronomic Efficiencies of Leaf Litter Compost as Nitrogen Source in Vegetable Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata)

Indian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.18805/ijare.a-5713 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Reshma Das ◽

Sheeba Rebecca Isaac

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Uptake ◽

Leaf Litter ◽

Vigna Unguiculata ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Block Design ◽

Poultry Manure ◽

Nitrogen Sources ◽

Nutrient Inputs ◽

Nutrient Input ◽

Nutrient Contents

Background: Nutritional security overrides food security and the present day agriculture focusses more on sustainable and regenerative agriculture in which use of organic inputs assumes prime significance. The search for viable alternatives to the chemical sources of nutrients demands production of the organic nutrient inputs in large quantities. Organic nutrition is expensive on account of the low nutrient contents and large quantum needed and hence unless produced in situ, turn out to be highly expensive. Organic wastes in the form of crop residues are available in plenty in agricultural fields. Tree leaf litter is another biowaste considered as menace under off farm situations. Rapid resource recycling techniques offer immense potential for the safe disposal of the litter and conversion to quality manures. In this background an experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of litter composts as nitrogen sources in vegetable cow pea (Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata) in terms of the agronomic efficiencies and nutrient uptake. Methods: The field experiment was conducted in College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Agricultural University during December 2018 to March 2019 in randomized block design with three replications. The treatments included the compost of the two tree species litter prepared by composting with different decomposer organisms and additives and enriched with the biofertilizer, PGPR Mix I. Result: The results of the experiment revealed the highest vegetable yields (7.80 t ha-1) in the treatment involving mango leaf litter composted with glyricidia leaves and earthworms on par with Kerala Agricultural University package of practices recommendation for cowpea and it was 2.7 times that in absolute control. The total nutrient uptake was the highest with mango litter co-composted with poultry manure as nutrient input. Agronomy efficiency indices, in terms of nitrogen were significantly superior for the treatments including mango litter composts and hence prove a suitable nutrient input in vegetable cowpea cultivation.

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Weight Loss and Nutrient Dynamics during Leaf Litter Decomposition of Quercus mongolica in Mt. Worak National Park

Journal of Ecology and Environment ◽

10.5141/jefb.2009.32.2.123 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 123-127 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Hyeong-Tae Mun

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Leaf Litter ◽

Litter Decomposition ◽

National Park ◽

Nutrient Dynamics ◽

Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽

Quercus Mongolica

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Weight Loss and Nutrient Dynamics during Leaf Litter Decomposition of Quercus variabilis and Pinus densiflora at Mt. Worak National Park

Journal of Ecology and Environment ◽

10.5141/jefb.2008.31.4.291 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 291-295 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Jeong NamGung ◽

A-Reum Han ◽

Hyeong-Tae Mun

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Leaf Litter ◽

Litter Decomposition ◽

National Park ◽

Nutrient Dynamics ◽

Pinus Densiflora ◽

Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽

Quercus Variabilis

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Nutrient Dynamics and Decomposition of Riparian Arundinaria gigantea (Walt.) Muhl. Leaves in Southern Illinois

Environment and Natural Resources Research ◽

10.5539/enrr.v6n3p106 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 106

Author(s):

Amanda M. Nelson ◽

Jon E. Schoonover ◽

Karl W. J. Williard

Keyword(s):

Leaf Litter ◽

Nutrient Dynamics ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Decomposition Rates ◽

Resorption Proficiency ◽

Southern Illinois ◽

Arundinaria Gigantea ◽

Giant Cane ◽

High Soil Moisture ◽

Leaf Litterfall

Leaf litter quality and quantity can influence soil nutrient dynamics and stream productivity through decomposition and serving as allochthonous stream inputs. Leaf deposition, nitrogen (N)-resorption efficiency and proficiency, and decomposition rates were analyzed in riparian stands of Arundinaria gigantea (Walt.) Muhl. in southern Illinois for the first time to determine potential nutrient cycling from riparian canebrake restoration. Leaf litter was collected from five established canebrakes monthly over one year and a decomposition study was conducted over 72 weeks. Live leaves, freshly senesced leaves, and decomposed leaves were analyzed for carbon (C) and N content. Leaf litterfall biomass peaked in November at twice the monthly average for all but one site, indicating a resemblance to deciduous leaf fall patterns. Nitrogen and C concentrations decreased 48% and 30%, respectively, between live leaves and 72 weeks following decomposition. High soil moisture appeared to slow decomposition rates, perhaps due to the creation of anaerobic conditions. Cane leaves have low resorption proficiency and nutrient-use proficiency, suggesting that these riparian canebrakes are not N limited. Giant cane should be considered in multispecies riparian buffer creation since it has this potential to supply carbon and nitrogen to the soil and to macroinvertebrates in the streams for a longer period of time and year round.

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Interactive effects of vertical mixing, nutrients and ultraviolet radiation: in situ photosynthetic responses of phytoplankton from high mountain lakes in Southern Europe

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-10-1037-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 1037-1050 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

E. W. Helbling ◽

P. Carrillo ◽

J. M. Medina-Sánchez ◽

C. Durán ◽

G. Herrera ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

National Park ◽

Vertical Mixing ◽

Mountain Lakes ◽

High Mountain ◽

Nutrient Inputs ◽

Nutrient Input ◽

High Mountain Lakes ◽

Photosynthetic Responses

Abstract. Global change, together with human activities, has resulted in increasing amounts of organic material (including nutrients) that water bodies receive. This input further attenuates the penetration of solar radiation, leading to the view that opaque lakes are more "protected" from solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) than clear ones. Vertical mixing, however, complicates this view as cells are exposed to fluctuating radiation regimes, for which the effects have, in general, been neglected. Furthermore, the combined impacts of mixing, together with those of UVR and nutrient inputs are virtually unknown. In this study, we carried out complex in situ experiments in three high mountain lakes of Spain (Lake Enol in the National Park Picos de Europa, Asturias, and lakes Las Yeguas and La Caldera in the National Park Sierra Nevada, Granada), used as model ecosystems to evaluate the joint impact of these climate change variables. The main goal of this study was to address the question of how short-term pulses of nutrient inputs, together with vertical mixing and increased UVR fluxes modify the photosynthetic responses of phytoplankton. The experimentation consisted in all possible combinations of the following treatments: (a) solar radiation: UVR &plus; PAR (280–700 nm) versus PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) alone (400–700 nm); (b) nutrient addition (phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N)): ambient versus addition (P to reach to a final concentration of 30 μg P L−1, and N to reach N:P molar ratio of 31); and (c) mixing: mixed (one rotation from surface to 3 m depth (speed of 1 m 4 min−1, total of 10 cycles)) versus static. Our findings suggest that under ambient nutrient conditions there is a synergistic effect between vertical mixing and UVR, increasing phytoplankton photosynthetic inhibition and excretion of organic carbon (EOC) from opaque lakes as compared to algae that received constant mean irradiance within the epilimnion. The opposite occurs in clear lakes where antagonistic effects were determined, with mixing partially counteracting the negative effects of UVR. Nutrient input, mimicking atmospheric pulses from Saharan dust, reversed this effect and clear lakes became more inhibited during mixing, while opaque lakes benefited from the fluctuating irradiance regime. These climate change related scenarios of nutrient input and increased mixing, would not only affect photosynthesis and production in lakes, but might also further influence the microbial loop and trophic interactions via enhanced EOC under fluctuating UVR exposure.

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Leaf litter copepods from a cloud forest mountain top in Honduras (Copepoda: Cyclopidae, Canthocamptidae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.3630.2.4 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 3630 (2) ◽

pp. 270-290 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

FRANK FIERS ◽

MERLIJN JOCQUE

Keyword(s):

Central America ◽

Leaf Litter ◽

National Park ◽

New World ◽

Cloud Forest ◽

Mountainous Regions ◽

Distributional Range ◽

Litter Sample ◽

Forest Mountain

Five different species of Copepoda were extracted from a leaf litter sample collected on the top (at 2000 m a.s.l.) of a cloud forested mountain in El Cusuco National Park, Honduras. Three of them, one Cyclopidae and two Canthocamptidae are new to science, and are described herein. Olmeccyclops hondo sp. nov. is the second representative thus far known of this New World genus. Moraria catracha sp. nov. and Moraria cusuca sp. nov. are the first formally described members of the genus occurring in Central America. The concept of a “Moraria-group” is considered to be an artificial grouping and is limited here to the genera Moraria and Morariopsis only. The distributional range of this group is essentially Holarctic, with the mountainous regions inHonduras, and probably in westNicaragua, as the southernmost limits in theNew World.

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Leaf litter production and litter nutrient dynamics of invasive Acacia mearnsii and native tree species in riparian forests of the Fynbos biome, South Africa

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119515 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 498 ◽

pp. 119515

Author(s):

M.Z. Railoun ◽

J.P. Simaika ◽

S.M. Jacobs

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Leaf Litter ◽

Tree Species ◽

Nutrient Dynamics ◽

Riparian Forests ◽

Litter Production ◽

Acacia Mearnsii ◽

Native Tree ◽

Native Tree Species ◽

Leaf Litter Production

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Dietary condensed tannins in bovine faeces and effects on soil microbial dynamics: are there environmental benefits for cattle production systems?

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an20118 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 61 (7) ◽

pp. 690

Author(s):

Gisele M. Fagundes ◽

Gabriela Benetel ◽

Mateus M. Carriero ◽

Ricardo L. M. Sousa ◽

Kelly C. Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Condensed Tannins ◽

Nutrient Dynamics ◽

Management Practices ◽

Production Systems ◽

Environmental Benefits ◽

Nutrient Inputs ◽

Microbial Dynamics ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Soil Microbial Population

Context Plant bioactive compounds such as condensed tannins (CT) are seen as an alternative to rumen chemical modulators to mitigate rumen methanogenesis in livestock; however, the presence of CT in ruminant faeces also produces a series of changes in soil microbiomes. Little is known about these effects on soil nutrient dynamics. Therefore, whether CT affect the decomposition process of faecal organic matter, delaying it and consequently increasing soil carbon and nitrogen (N) sequestration, merits study. Aims Our study investigated the effects of a diet rich in CT on bovine faecal composition and on subsequent dynamics of a soil microbial population. Methods Faeces were analysed from cattle fed the following diets: control (no CT), 1.25% CT, 2.5% CT. In a greenhouse pot experiment over a period of 60 days, faeces from the three dietary treatments were applied to soil and the soil microbial populations were measured against a control with no faeces applied. Key results The presence of CT increased the excretion of faecal N and of neutral and acid detergent fibres and lignin, and the higher rate of CT reduced the rate of soil organic matter decomposition. Treatments with dietary CT resulted in greater total numbers of bacteria in the soil than in the no-faeces control and stimulated numbers of Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria (α-Proteobacteria) and Firmicutes. Conclusions The study showed that CT alter N recycling and other nutrient inputs in a soil–animal ecosystem by increasing faecal N inputs, delaying organic matter breakdown, and changing soil microbial dynamics. Implications The presence of CT in ruminant diets can be beneficial to the soil environment. Sustainable management practices should be encouraged by providing ruminants with feed including high-CT legumes in silvopastoral systems.

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