Litterfall and nutrient return in a semi-arid southern African savanna woodland dominated by Colophospermum mopane

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate litter production, litter standing crop and nutrient return to soil in a semi-arid southern African savanna in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. We used a randomized block design with five blocks of 100 × 100 m demarcated in a 10-ha pocket of Colophospermum mopane-dominated open woodland protected from grazing and fire. Litter traps were installed beneath large (8.3 m crown diameter) and small mopane trees (2.7 m crown diameter) and in the intercanopy area, representing 27, 3 and 62% of the woodland area, respectively. Mean annual total litterfall over 2 years of observations was 197, 83 and 35 g m−2 yr−1 beneath large and small trees as well as in the intercanopy area, respectively. Leaf proportions of total litterfall beneath large and small trees and in the intercanopy area were 68.6, 73.0 and 75.3%, respectively. Litterfall followed a uni-modal distribution pattern and was much higher during the period of May–September (dry period) compared to other months. The total potential annual element inputs via litterfall beneath large trees were 2 and 5 times greater than beneath small trees and in the intercanopy area, respectively. Total litter standing crop was 405, 177 and 67 g m−2 beneath large and small trees and in the intercanopy area, respectively. Concentrations of N, P and K in litterfall and surface soil were closely correlated with each other. At all sampling sites, element accession to soil through litterfall followed the decreasing sequence C > Ca > N > Mg > K > P. These results suggest that litterfall is a major process responsible for soil organic matter and nutrient enrichment beneath isolated trees in semi-arid savannas.