Summary
Decomposition and changes in nutrient content of six litter types (leaves, sheaths, roots, twigs, and wood of bamboo, and grass shoots) were studied in nylon net bags for 2 years. The annual weight loss was (% of initial) bamboo leaves 56.5, bamboo sheaths 79.5, bamboo roots 65.8, bamboo twigs 49.6, bamboo wood 31.2, and grass shoots 74.9. Elemental mobility followed the order K>Na>C>P>Ca>N in all components except wood. Generally, an initial increase was followed by a consistent decrease in the contents of N (leaves), P (leaves, roots, wood) and Ca (leaves, roots, grass), and Na (wood). Most of the nutrients were immobilized in the rainy season. C and K contents showed a constant decrease throughout the decomposition period. Materials with a greater C:N ratio (>50) tended to accumulate more nutrients and retain them for longer, except for the bamboo twigs. The critical C:N ratio (at which a net release of N occured) for the leaf material was 25. Litter components with more initial N (sheaths) showed greater weight loss than those with less N (leaves, twigs, and wood). Overall, N and P were lost at the slowest rates while C and K were lost at faster rates. Initial lignin, lignin: N, C:N and C concentrations had a better predictive value for annual weight loss and nutrient release in bivariate relationships. A combination of the initial lignin value and the C: N ratio explained 93% of the variation in annual weight loss. A significant relationship was also observed between the annual weight loss rate and the nutrient mineralization/release rate.
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Tripathi, S.K., Singh, K.P. Nutrient immobilization and release patterns during plant decomposition in a dry tropical bamboo savanna, India. Biol Fertil Soils 14, 191–199 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346060
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346060