Abstract
Investigation was carried out on leaf litter decomposition and nutrient content of three agroforestry species—Annona muricata L., Senna siamea (Lam.) and Cola nitida (Vent.) using litterbag technique. Oven-dry leaf litters of each species were put in 432 litterbags of 23 g each. These were divided into two sets with one placed on the soil surface (SSP) and another, soil incorporated (SIP). Initial nutrient content (INC), decay constant, half- and full-lives (weeks) were determined. Decomposition rates, nutrient release patterns (NRP) and litter quality were measured fortnightly for 24 weeks after litter placement (WALP). Data collected were subjected to descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α0.05. The INC was significantly different among the species. N concentration decreased from C. nitida A. muricataS. siamea. P was significantly higher in S. siamea (0.38%) than C. nitida (0.22%) and A. muricata (0.32%). Decay constant was highest (0.005) in C. nitida under SIP. Highest half-life (49.5 weeks) and full-life (178.57 weeks) were recorded in S. siamea and C. nitida; and S. siamea and C. nitida under SSP. After 24 weeks, C. nitida had the highest decomposition rate, 5.97 ± 0.0 under SIP. NRP showed that A. muricata and S. siamea had the highest P (0.17%) and cellulose (28.2%) at 24 WALP under SIP. Lignin concentration at 24 WALP was highest in S. siamea (4.35%) and least in C. nitida (0.43%). Decomposition trend and nutrient release pattern from the leaf litters of selected agroforestry species indicated the potential of these leaf litters to offer nutrients on a sustainable basis in an agroforestry system.
Similar content being viewed by others
Code availability
Not applicable.
Data availability
Not applicable.
References
Abdullahi IN, Chuwang TS, Ikemefuna H (2015) Determination of mineral accumulation through litterfall of Parkia biglobosa Jacq Benth and Vitellaria paradoxa Lahm trees in Abuja, Nigeria. Int J Sci Res Agric Sci 2(1):16–21
Aber JD, Melillo JM, MCclaugty CA, (1990) Predicting long-term patterns of mass loss, nitrogen dynamics, and soil organic matter formation from initial fine litter chemistry in temperate forest ecosystems. Can J Bot 68:2201–2208
Abraham M (2014) Leaf litter decomposition and Nutrient release from Cordia africana Lam. and Croton macrostachyus Del. Trees Species J Environ Earth Sci 4(15):2224–3216
Adejuyigbe CO (2000) Effects of fallow legumes on soil microarthropods and their roles in nutrient turnover under humid tropical conditions. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Berg B, Laskowski I (2006) Litter decomposition: a guide to carbon and nutrient turnover. Acad Press San Diego 38:p448
Berg B, McClaugherty C (2008) Initial litter chemical composition, In: Plant Litter – Decomposition, Humus Formation, Carbon Sequestration, 2nd Edn., edited by: Berg B, McClaugherty C, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, 53–84
Berg B, McClaugherty C (2014) Climatic environment, In: plant litter – decomposition, humus formation, carbon sequestration, third edition Edn., edited by: Berg, B. and McClaugherty, C., Springer, Heidelberg, New York, Dordrecht, London, 143–170
Bradford MA, Berg B, Maynard DS, Wieder WR, Wood SA, Cornwell W (2016) Understanding the dominant controls on litter decomposition. J Ecol 104(1):229–238
Cardelús CL (2007) Vascular epiphyte communities in the inner-crown of Hyeronima alchorneoides and Lecythis ampla at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. Biotropica 39:171–176
Castro FA, Maria GA, Holanda LFF, Moura fe JA, (1984) Characteristics of Annona muricata. Graviola 19(3):361–365
Ekeleme F, Chikoye D, Akobundu IO (2005) Weed seedbank response to planted fallow and tillage in southwest Nigeria. Agrofores Syst 63(3):299–306
Ekow G, Adams S, Kennedy A, Thomas A, Gabriel Q (2016) Leaf decomposition and the nutrients release from multipurpose trees for crop production, themed section. Sci Technol IJSRSET 2(1):2394–4099
Gupta PC, Khatta VK, Mandal AB (1988) Analytical techniques in animal nutrition. Directorate of Publication, HAU, Hisar, India, pp 0019–6339
Gusewell S, Gessner MO (2009) N: P ratios influence litter decomposition and colonization by fungi and bacteria in microcosms. Funct Ecol 23:211–219
Hasanuzzaman M, Hossain M (2014a) Nutrient return through leaf litter decomposition of common cropland agroforest tree species of Bangladesh. Int Res J Biol Sci 3(9):82–88
Hasanuzzaman MD, Hossain M (2014b) Leaf litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics associated with common horticultural cropland agroforest tree species of Bangladesh. Int J For Res. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/805940
Heinsleigh TE, Holaway BK (1988) Agroforestry species for the Philippines. US Peace Corps, AJA Printers, Metro Manila Philippines
Hossain M, Siddique MRH, Rahman MdS, Hossain Md, Hasan Md (2011) Nutrient dynamics associated with leaf litter decomposition of three agroforestry tree species (Azadirachta indica, Dalbergia sissoo and Melia azedarach) of Bangladesh. J For Res 22(4):577–582
Jackson MI (1962) Soil chemist analysis. Pretence-hall. New York. Inc., Eaglewood Cliffs, N.Y, pp 219–221
Karberg NJ, Scott NA and Giardina CP (2008) Methods for estimating litter decomposition. Chapter 8 In: Hoover, Coeli M., ed. Field measurements for forest carbon monitoring: a landscape-scale approach. New York, NY: Springer Science + Business Media: 103–111
Karen LK (2010) Inputs of nutrients and pollutants to hawaiian coastal waters from submarine groundwater discharge. Stanford University. p. 131
Khan MR, Kornme K, Omotos AD (1997) Antibacterial activities of some Annonaceae.’ Part 1. Fitoterapia 69(4):367–369
Luna RK (1996) Plantation trees. Delhi, India: International Book Distributors. X 975 pp
Melillo JM, Aber JD, Muratore JM (1982) Nitrogen and lignin control of hardwood leaf litter decomposition dynamics. Ecology 63:621–626
Nelson DW and Sommer LE (1982) Total carbon OC and organic matter. In: page A.L. Miller, H. Keeney DR (Eds.). Method of soil analysis, part 2. Agronomy society of america and soil science society of America, Madison, WI, pp. 539–577
Okeke AI (1998) Pasture and forage Production in Agroforestry Ecosystem in Nigeria paper presented at a meeting of experts on indigenous crops and animals research and development, Held at the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Moore Plantation, Ibadan, 3–7 May pp 400
Okeke AI, Omaliko CAE (1992) Leaf litter decomposition and carbon dioxide evolution of some agroforestry fallow species in southern Nigeria. For Ecol Manag S5(1–2):103–116
Okunomo K, Egho EO (2010) Economic importance of some underexploited tree species in Nigeria. Urgent need for separate research centres. Cont J Biol Sci 3:16–32
Olsen SR, Sommer LE (1982) Phosphorous In: Miller AL and RH Leeney PR (Eds). Methods of soil analysis. Part 2. Agronomy Society of America Madison W. pp 403 – 450
Olson JS (1963) Energy storage and Balance of producers and decomposers in ecological systems. Ecology 44:322–333
Orwal C, Mutua A, Kindt R, Jamnadass R, Anthony S (2009) Agroforestree database: a tree reference and selection guide version 4.0. World Agroforestry Centre, Kenya. www.worldagroforestry.org/sites/treedbs/treedatabases.asp (accessed 4 January 2016)
Owoeye JO, Ogundiran AO (2014) A study on housing and environmental quality of moniya community in Ibadan, Nigeria. J Environ Earth Sci 4(13):2224–3216
Paudel E, Dossa GGO, de Blecourt M, Beckschafer P, Xu J, Harrison RD (2015) Quantifying the factors affecting leaf litter decomposition across a tropical forest disturbance gradient. Ecosphere 6(12):267. https://doi.org/10.1890/ES15-00112.1
Pinta M (1970) Agricultural application of flame photometry. In: Mavrodineanu R. (ed). Analytical flame spectroscopy. Philips Technical Library, Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-01008-0_8
Portillo-Estrada M, Pihlatie M, Janne FJ, Korhonen J, Levula AK, Frumau F, Andreas I, Jonas J, Lembrechts L, Morillas LH, Stephanie KJ, Ülo N (2016) Climatic controls on leaf litter decomposition across European forests and grasslands revealed by reciprocal litter transplantation experiments. Biogeosciences 13:1621–1633
Satchel JE (1994) Introduction: Leaf-interface of animal/ inanimate matter. In: Biology of plant litter decomposition. Vol. 1 Eds Ch Dickinson and G.F.H. Pugh Academic Press pp. xii-xiv
Sosef MSM, Hong LT, Prawirohatmodjo S (1998) Plant resources of Southeast Asia. In: Timber trees: lesser-known timbers, vol 5. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, the Netherlands, p 859
Su Y, Zhao H, Li Y, Cui J (2004) Carbon mineralization potential in soils of different habitats in the semiarid Horqin sandy land: a laboratory experiment. Arid Land Res Manag 18:39–50
Swift MJ, Anderson JM (1989) Decomposition in Lieth, H. Werger M.J.A (eds), Tropical rainforest ecosystems. Biogeographical and ecological studies. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 547–569
Tripathi OP, Pandey HN, Tripathi RS (2009) Litter production, decomposition and physico-chemical properties of soil in 3 developed agroforestry systems of Meghalaya, Northern India. Afr J Plant Sci 3(8):160–167
Vesterdal L, Schmidt IK, Callesen I, Nilsson LO, Gundersen P (2008) Carbon and nitrogen in forest floor and mineral soil under six common European tree species. For Ecol Manage 255(1):35–48
Wang F, Li Z, Xia H, Zou B, Li N, Liu J, Zhu W (2010) Effects of nitrogen-fixing and non-nitrogen-fixing tree species on soil properties and nitrogen transformation during forest restoration in southern China. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 56:297–306
Waring RH, Schlesinger WH (1985) Forest ecosystems concepts and management Ch.8 p. 181–210. In: Decomposition and Forest Soil Development. Academic Press, Inc. New York. Pp 338
Funding
The research did not receive any funding.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Both authors contributed to the project design, laboratory work, data analysis, interpretation and write-up.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflicts of interest
There is no conflict of interest or competing interest.
Consent to participate
The authors agree to participate in the research.
Consent for publication
The authors agree to the publication.
Ethics approval
Not applicable.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Akinyele, A.O., Donald-Amaeshi, U. Leaf litter decomposition and nutrient release of three selected agroforestry tree species. Agroforest Syst 95, 559–570 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-021-00606-w
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-021-00606-w