Abstract
Litterfall, litter standing crops, nutrient dynamics and their turnover were studied in Ebom tropical rainforest of Cameroon six years after selective logging practices. Two sample sites, one in the logging part of the forest (disturbed site) and the other in the part of forest not affected by selective logging (undisturbed site) were used for the study. After two years of field experiment, the mean annual of litterfall varied from 1.95 to 10.93 t.ha-1.y-1 in undisturbed site, and from 1.49 to 9.07 t.ha-1.y-1 in logging site respectively for wood litter and the total litterfall. The greatest significant of total litterfall were recorded in long dry season in the two sites. The litter standing crops varied from 0.96 for wood to 2.09 t.ha-1 for leaf litter in the undisturbed site and from 0.49 for rest litter to 1.58 t.ha-1 for leaf litter in the logging site. The turnover (KL) of litter varied from 0.89 to 3.57 for wood in the logging site and from 0.49 to 2.99 for leaf litter in the undisturbed site. Overall, the nutrient amounts in litter fractions are higher in the undisturbed site than in the logging site, except that of Na. The logging impact, six years after logging, was negligible on the litterfall, but results in much faster release of Mg and Na which were low in the Ebom forest soil. It would take more than six years for the logging effects to cancel out. Key words: Litterfall, litter standing crops, litter turnover, logging, nutrient dynamics, tropical rainforest, Cameroon.
Highlights
In South Cameroon, the degradation of tropical forests, mainly due to shifting cultivation and logging (van Gemerden, 2004) is currently one of the major problems for the forest management (Jonkers and Foahom, 2003).Impacts on the reduction of biodiversity, soil depletion and loss of productivity are undeniable (Jonkers and Foahom, 2003)
The mean annual of litterfall and its fraction were higher in the undisturbed site (6.24, 1.95, 2.79 and 10.93 t.ha-1.year-1) than in the logging site (5.64, 1.49, 1.94 and 9.07 t.ha1.year-1) respectively for leaf, woods, rest fraction and the total small litterfall, while coarse litterfall was higher in the logging site (1.83 t.ha-1.year-1) compared to the undisturbed site (1.36 t.ha-1.year-1)
Mean seasonal of total small litterfall and leaf fraction were significantly different according to seasons in both sites, while wood fraction was significant different according to seasons only in the logging site
Summary
In South Cameroon, the degradation of tropical forests, mainly due to shifting cultivation and logging (van Gemerden, 2004) is currently one of the major problems for the forest management (Jonkers and Foahom, 2003). Impacts on the reduction of biodiversity, soil depletion and loss of productivity are undeniable (Jonkers and Foahom, 2003). Tropenbos Cameroon Programme (TCP) developed a strategy for the sustainable.
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