Abstract
Determination of nutrient contents in Diospyros crassiflora leaf litter was carried out in the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Okwuta-Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria in 2016 and 2017. Three 1 m × 1 m trays were randomly positioned for collection of leaf litter production from 4/5 years old Diospyros crassiflora species in each block (10 m × 25 m) within the plantation totaling 1.5 ha. A Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates was used to study the mean monthly leaf litterfall of Diospyros crassiflora. Leaf litter was collected from each of the three litter trays per block and placed in paper bags every 28th day of each month from January-December in 2016 and in 2017. Fifteen grammes (15 g) of properly mixed and oven-dried samples of D. crassiflora leaf litter were milled and sieved in 1 mm sieve; 0.3 g was used to determine nutrient elements and their concentrations. The data obtained from mineral nutrient contents of D. crassiflora leaf litter was analysed using analysis of variance. Result reveals the mean concentrations of nitrogen (1.41 and 1.41 mg·l-1), phosphorus (0.18 and 0.18 mg·l-1), potassium (0.68 and 0.68 mg·l-1), sodium (0.35 and 0.30 mg·l-1), calcium (1.57 and 1.56 mg·l-1), magnesium (0.32 and 0.31 mg·l-1), chlorine (0.25 and 0.24 mg·l-1), Organic carbon (0.03 and 0.03 mg·l-1) and Organic matter (1.17 and 1.18 mg·l-1) etc. in D. crassiflora leaf litter in January-December (2016 and 2017). The study shows almost uniform distribution of mineral elements concentrations in 2016 and 2017.
Highlights
The forest trees and shrubs, especially foliar components are utilized by animals as fodder (Longman, 2007)
Result reveals the mean concentrations of nitrogen (1.41 and 1.41 mg·l−1), phosphorus (0.18 and 0.18 mg·l−1), potassium (0.68 and 0.68 mg·l−1), sodium (0.35 and 0.30 mg·l−1), calcium (1.57 and 1.56 mg·l−1), magnesium (0.32 and 0.31 mg·l−1), chlorine (0.25 and 0.24 mg·l−1), Organic carbon (0.03 and 0.03 mg·l−1) and Organic matter (1.17 and 1.18 mg·l−1) etc. in D. crassiflora leaf litter in January-December (2016 and 2017)
This paper focuses on determination of nutrient contents in the leaf litter of Diospyros crassiflora (African Ebony) plantation in Umuahia, Abia State in 2016 and 2017
Summary
The forest trees and shrubs, especially foliar components are utilized by animals (livestocks) as fodder (Longman, 2007). Most of these tree species comprise of proteins, mineral nutrients and vitamins, which nutrient contents vary from species to species (Dicko and Sikena, 1992). The variation in nutrient (N, P, and K) concentrations in the litter of different species at the initial stages of decomposition is due to different families with variations in chemical and biochemical properties of leaf litters (Hasanuzzaman and Hossain, 2014). According to Hasanuzzaman and Hossain (2014), nutrient concentration was found to decrease gradually at the end of a 180 days’ experiment in dry season on Common Horticultural Cropland Agroforest Tree Species of Bangladesh. Nutrient concentrations decreased at the initial stage but increased at the end of the study in the raining season
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