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- Title
Litter fall, decomposition and nutrient release dynamics of Thyrsostachys oliveri gamble in humid tropics of Kerala, Southern India.
- Authors
Madathil, Jijeesh Choyi; Kodikunnath, Seethalakshmi Kolankara
- Abstract
Thyrsostachys oliveri is a bamboo species native to Myanmar cultivated in Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India. Due to multifarious uses, this species has been preferred by farmers for large-scale cultivation all over India. Little is known about litter production, decomposition and nutrient release dynamics of this species. Litter dynamic studies are imperative, prior to integration of a species into any plantation program or agroforestry systems. The present study is framed to investigate the litter production, decomposition and nutrient release dynamics of T. oliveri. Litter production during 2010-2011 was quantified using specially designed litter traps made of bamboo baskets with a diameter of 1 m and depth 10 cm. Litter decomposition was studied using nylon litter bag techniques. The total annual litter production of this species was to the tune of 4.488 t ha-1. The major share of total litterfall in T. oliveri was contributed by leaves (93.60±0.99 %) followed by branches (5.82±0.99 %) and culm sheaths (0.76±0.75 %). Litter production followed a biphasic pattern with a major peak in February 2011 and minor peak in July 2010. Weight loss expressed as percentage of the original dry weight decreased exponentially with time and the mass loss in T. oliveri was a good fit to exponential decay model. The decomposition rate constant of T. oliveri was 0.009 day-1 and the half-life was 77 days. The release of nutrients from the decomposing litter was in the order Mg > N > Ca > P > K.
- Subjects
KERALA (India); BAMBOO; AGROFORESTRY; BIODEGRADATION of plant litter; EXPONENTIAL decay law
- Publication
Soil & Environment, 2018, Vol 37, Issue 2, p152
- ISSN
2074-9546
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.25252/SE/18/771