Abstract
Mangifera indica,Zizyphus jujuba,Litchi chinensis, andArtocarpus heterophyllusare the most common cropland agroforest horticultural tree species of Bangladesh. This study focused on leaf litter decomposition and nutrient (N, P, and K) dynamics during the decomposition process. This experiment was conducted for 180 days by using litter bag technique during dry and wet seasons. Mass loss was the highest (49% and 57%) forA. heterophyllusand the lowest (25%) was found forL. chinensis. The highest initial rates (0.75% and 2.35%/day) of decomposition were observed forZ. jujubaand the lowest (0.50% and 0.79%/day) forL. chinensis. The highest decay constant was observed forA. heterophyllus(2.14 and 2.34) and the lowest (0.88 and 0.94) forL. chinensis. Leaf litter of all the studied species showed a similar pattern (K > N > P) of nutrient release during the decomposition process.Zizyphus jujubashowed comparatively higher return of N, P, and K than others. However, a significant (P<0.05) higher amount of mass loss, rate of decomposition, decay constant, and amount of nutrient return from leaf litter were observed during the wet season.
Highlights
Bangladesh is a developing country where agriculture is the major economic activity
The objectives of this study were to determine the following: (1) leaf litter decomposition rates for four commonly planted horticultural agroforestry tree species (Artocarpus heterophyllus, Mangifera indica, Zizyphus jujuba, and Litchi chinensis) in the dry season and wet season, (2) return rates of N, P, and K to the soil for these species in the dry and wet seasons, and (3) the best species to use on the basis of nutrient return through leaf litter decomposition
The comparatively highest (49% and 57%) mass losses were observed for A. heterophyllus and the lowest (25% and 25%) were for L. chinensis during 180 days in the dry and wet seasons, respectively (Figure 1)
Summary
Bangladesh is a developing country where agriculture is the major economic activity. Farmers plant trees in the croplands for the increased production of timber, fodder, fuel wood, fruits, herbal medicines, raw material for small cottage industries, and short-term nontimber products and for environmental and ecological benefits [1,2,3,4]. No attempt has been taken to screen or prioritize the commonly planted tree species in the cropland agroforests as well as other types of agroforestry on the basis of nutrient cycling. The objectives of this study were to determine the following: (1) leaf litter decomposition rates for four commonly planted horticultural agroforestry tree species (Artocarpus heterophyllus, Mangifera indica, Zizyphus jujuba, and Litchi chinensis) in the dry season (from December to May with average monthly rainfall of International Journal of Forestry Research mm) and wet season (from June to November with average monthly rainfall of 240 mm), (2) return rates of N, P, and K to the soil for these species in the dry and wet seasons, and (3) the best species to use on the basis of nutrient return through leaf litter decomposition
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