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Organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment potentials from litter fall in selected greenbelt species during a seasonal transition in Nigeria’s savanna

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Abstract

Litter deposition is a major pathway for nutrients returns to soils. Despite the importance of trees in savannas, litter production and nutrient releases from scattered tree stands open space in the ecosystem have been overlooked. The study assessed litter production and organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment potentials from isolated stands of Vitellaria paradoxa, Prosopis africana, Tabebuia pallida and Peltophorum pterocarpum in the greenbelt of University of Ilorin during seasonal transition period. Physiognomic characters were assessed for 25 mature stands of the tree species and litter were collected during the late dry season (February/March) and early rainy season (April/May). Monthly litters were sorted into leaves, twigs, flowers and fruits and bulked for nutrient determination. Prosopis had high stem girth, canopy width and number of branches (0.64 m; 9.85 m and 10). Vitellaria and Tabebuia produced higher leaf litter especially during the dry season (February and March). Peltophorum produced the highest flower litter (41.45 g/m2) in February. Twig litter in Tabebuia (6.50 g/m2) and Prosopis (1.07 g/m2) were highest in March while Peltophorum and Vitellaria were in February (2.64 and 1.04 g/m2). Vitellaria had the highest fruit litter in April (6.79 g/m2). Concentrations of C, N and P in the litter varied across months with ranges of 0.14–4.15%, 0.08–0.73% and 0.20–10.33 mg kg−1dw respectively. Vitellaria litter (in February) returned the highest C while Tabebuia litter (in May) returned the highest N and P. Tabebuia pallida can be incorporated in agroforestry to improve N and P concentrations in soils where these nutrients are limiting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Biology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, 240003, Nigeria

    S. Oyedeji, D. A. Animasaun, C. O. Ogunkunle & P. O. Fatoba

  2. Centre for Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Management, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, 100213, Nigeria

    O. O. Agboola

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  1. S. Oyedeji
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Correspondence to S. Oyedeji.

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Oyedeji, S., Agboola, O.O., Animasaun, D.A. et al. Organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment potentials from litter fall in selected greenbelt species during a seasonal transition in Nigeria’s savanna. Trop Ecol 62, 580–588 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-021-00172-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-021-00172-3

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