Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research communications

Vol. 11 No. 4 (2024)

Litterfall variation and soil nutrient dynamics in Swietenia macrophylla, Samanea saman and Bambusa blumeana woodstands: Implications for nutrient cycling and soil fertility

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.3231
Submitted
27 December 2023
Published
25-11-2024 — Updated on 27-11-2024
Versions

Abstract

This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding litterfall dynamics in university wood stands, focusing on Tarlac Agricultural University and its diverse tree species. While extensive research exists on soil dynamics and litterfall in large-scale plantations and forested areas in the Philippines, university wood stands remain understudied. The research assesses and compares litterfall variation among Swietenia macrophylla, Samanea saman and Bambusa blumeana, exploring implications for nutrient cycling, soil fertility, and amelioration. Litterfall was collected using the catch net method, followed by soil nutrient analyses to establish correlations. Results indicate significant variations in litterfall quantity, organic matter, phosphorus, and nitrogen across akasya, mahogany, and kawayang tinik woodstands. S. macrophylla (mahogany) shows the highest litterfall production (39.97 gday-1), while S. saman (akasya) exhibits the highest organic matter content in both top and subsoil layers (2.23% and 1.69%). B. blumeana (kawayang tinik) woodstands demonstrate elevated nitrogen and phosphorus levels in the topsoil (0.09% and 27 ppm) while S. saman showing the highest levels in the subsoil (0.08% and 18 ppm). The study also highlights the influence of leaf senescence seasonality on litterfall production and species-specific nutrient composition in soil layers. Notably, kawayang tinik shows promise for soil amelioration due to its substantial litterfall production and positive soil quality impact. In conclusion, this research provides valuable insights into litterfall and soil nutrient dynamics in university wood stands, emphasizing the role of plant species and offering practical implications for soil management strategies. B. blumeana emerges as pivotal for enhancing soil fertility and amelioration, with broader implications for sustainable agriculture practices.

References

  1. a. Dai S, Wei T, Tang J, Xu Z, Gong H. Temporal changes in litterfall and nutrient cycling from 2005–2015 in an evergreen broad-leaved forest in the Ailao mountains, China. Plants. 2023;12(6):1277. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12061277
  2. Cotrufo MF, Soong JL, Horton AJ, Campbell EE, Haddix ML, Wall DH, Parton WJ. Formation of soil organic matter via biochemical and physical pathways of litter mass loss. Nature Geoscience. 2015;8:776-79. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2520
  3. Giweta M. Role of litter production and its decomposition and factors affecting the processes in a tropical forest ecosystem: a review. J Ecology Environ. 2020;44(11). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41610-020-0151-2
  4. Schlesinger WH, Bernhardt ES. The carbon cycle of terrestrial ecosystems. Biogeochemistry. 2020;141-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-814608-8.00005-0
  5. Sayer EJ, Rodtassana C, Sheldrake M, Bréchet LM, Ashford OS, Lopez-Sangil L, et al. Revisiting nutrient cycling by litterfall—insights from 15 years of litter manipulation in old-growth lowland tropical forest. In: Tropical Ecosystems in the 21st Centrury; 2020.62:173-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aecr.2020.01.002
  6. Toth JA, Nagy PT, Krakomperger Z, Veres Z, Kotroczo Z, Kincses S, et al. Effect of litter fall on soil nutrient content and pH and its consequences in view of climate change. Acta Silv Lign Hung. 2011;7:75-86. https://doi.org/10.37045/aslh-2011-0006
  7. Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. How to Assess Soil Structure; 2023. Available from https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/how-to-assess-soil-structure
  8. Ackerson JP. Soil Sampling Guidelines; 2018. Available from https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/AY/AY-368-w.pdf
  9. Walkley A, Black IA. An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Science. 1934;37(1):29-38. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-193401000-00003
  10. Olsen SR, Sommers LE. Phosphorus. In: Page AL, et al. editors. Methods of Soil Analysis: Part 2. Chemical and Microbiological Properties. Agron Mongr. 9. 2nd ed. ASA and SSSA, Madison, WI; 1982. p. 403-30. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronmonogr9.2.2ed.c24
  11. Kjeldahl J. Neue methode zur bestimmung des stickstoffs in organischen Körpern. Zeitschrift für Analytische Chemie. 1883;22(1):366-82. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01338151
  12. Barlow J, Gardner TA, Ferreira LV, Peres CA. Litter fall and decomposition in primary, secondary and plantation forests in the Brazilian Amazon. Forest Ecology and Management. 2007;247(1):91-97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2007.04.017
  13. Martin PF, Abdullah M, Solichin, Hadiyanti LH, Widianingrum K. Leaf litter production of mahogany along street and campus forest of Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia. J Phys Conference Series. 2018;983. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/983/1/012180
  14. Correia RG, Martins WBR, Oliveira FA, Dionisio LFS, Neves RLP, Batista TFV. Production and decomposition of litter in different mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) cropping systems. Ciência da Madeira. Brazilian Journal of Wood Science. 2018;9(2):103-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.12953/2177-6830/rcm.v9n2p103-110
  15. Kassa G, Bekele T, Demissew S, Tesfaye A. Leaves litterfall and nutrient inputs from four multipurpose tree/shrub species of home garden agroforestry systems. Environ Syst Res. 2022;11(29). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-022-00278-0
  16. Saharjo BH, Watanabe H. Estimation of litter fall and seed production of Acacia mangium in a forest plantation in South Sumatra, Indonesia. Forest Ecology and Management. 2000;130(1-3):265-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(99)00189-9
  17. Railoun MZ, Simaika JP, Jacobs SM. 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. 2021;498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119515
  18. Zou B, Li ZA, Ding YZ, Tan WN. Litterfall of common plantations in South Subtropical China. Acta Ecologica Sinica. 2006;26(3):715-21. DOI 10.1007/s10310-010-0206-9
  19. Lee YK, Woo SY. Changes in litter, decomposition, nitrogen mineralization and microclimate in Acacia mangium and Acacia auriculiformis plantation in Mount Makiling, Philippines. International Journal of Physical Sciences. 2012;7(12):1976-85. https://doi.org/10.5897/IJPS11.846
  20. Shanmughavel P, Peddappaiah RS, Muthukumar T. Litter production and nutrient return in Bambusa bambos plantation. J Sustainab For. 2000;11(3):71-82. https://doi.org/10.1300/J091v11n03_04
  21. Tripathi SK, Singh KP. Litter dynamics of recently harvested and mature bamboo savannas in a dry tropical region in India. Journal of Tropical Ecology. 2009;11(3):403-17. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467400008865
  22. Odiwe AI, Borisade TV, Raimi IO, Rufai AB. Litter fall and standing crop litter of Bambusa vulgaris schrad. Ex j.c. Wendl. Stands in secondary rainforest in Ile-ife, Nigeria. Int J Biol Chem Sci. 2019;13(4):2224-32. https://doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v13i4.27
  23. Canon K. AESA: Soil quality benchmark sites. AESA Soil Quality Program. Conservation and Development Branch. Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development; 2016. https://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/aesa1861/$file/organicmatter.pdf?OpenElement. Accessed May 4, 2021
  24. Center for Agricultural and Environmental Research and Training, Inc. Explaining a Soil Profile. Available from: http://www.senecahs.org/uploaded_files/Explaining a profile E Unit
  25. Bernhard-Reversat F. Dynamics of litter and organic matter at the fast-growing tree plantations on sandy ferrallitic soils (congo). Acta Ecologica. 1998;14(2):179-95.
  26. Sankar Ganesh P, Gajalakshmi S, Abbasi SA. Vermicomposting of the leaf litter of acacia (Acacia auriculiformis): possible roles of reactor geometry, polyphenols and lignin. Bioresource Technology. 2009;(100):1819-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2008.09.051
  27. Mugunga CP, Mugumo DT. Acacia sieberiana effects on soil properties and plant diversity in songa pastures, Rwanda. International Journal of Biodiversity. 2013;1-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/237525
  28. Hari Prasath CN, Sudarshan A, Goroji PT. Quantification of litterfall and assessment of nutrient composition in bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris var. vulgaris) plantation. International Journal of Forestry and Crop Improvement. 2014;5(2):54-60. https://doi.org/10.26525/jtfs2018.30.2.195206
  29. Tu, L, Hu T, Zhang J, Li X, Hu H, Liu L, Xiao Y. Nitrogen addition stimulates different components of soil respiration in a subtropical bamboo ecosystem. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 2013;58:255-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2012.12.005
  30. Shiau YJ, Wang HC, Chen TH, Jien SH, Tian G, Chiu CY. Improvement in the biochemical and chemical properties of badland soils by thorny bamboo. Sci Rep. 2017;7(40561):1-11 https://doi.org/10.1038/srep40561
  31. Akoto DS, Partey ST, Abugre S, Akoto S, Denich M, Borgemeister C, Schmitt CB. Comparative analysis of leaf litter decomposition and nutrient release patterns of bamboo and traditional species in agroforestry system in Ghana. Cleaner Materials. 2022;4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clema.2022.100068
  32. Tu Z, Chen L, Yu X, Zheng Y. Effect of bamboo plantation on rhizosphere soil enzyme and microbial activities in coastal ecosystem. Journal of Food Agriculture and Environment. 2013;11(3):2333-38.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.