Nutrient Use Pattern of Diospyros Melanoxylon in Comparison to Shorea Robusta in Fragmented Dry Tropical Forest in West Bengal, India

Abstract

The present study deals with the nutrient concentrations and its use by the dominant tree species of sal (Shorea robusta Roxb.) in comparison to one of the predominating tree species namely kendu (Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb.). The study was carried out in a highly encroached tropical dry deciduous forest known as Matha Protected Forest (MPF) of Purulia district, West Bengal, India. MPF is broadly fragmented into two parts viz. Plot A and Plot B. The main objective of the study is to define the distribution of major nutrient concentrations in green leaf, leaf litter and soil as well as the proficient use and resorption of nutrients by dominant plant species Shorea robusta Roxb. and one of the pre-dominant plant species Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. To improve the understanding of flow of nutrients and their losses within the ecosystem, that will give information for effective forest management strategies. From analysis, it is depicted that nutrient use efficiency is in the order P>K>N for Shorea robusta Roxb. while the pattern is K>P>N in Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. We found differences of nutrient concentration between the species and the variation in nutrient concentration depends on the site characteristics. Similarly variation in nutrient remobilization also occurs. Above all, nutrient limitation occurs at the smaller fragmented Plot B, as Plot A shows decreased Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) and Nutrient Retranslocation Efficiency (NRE) than Plot B.