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Journal ArticleDOI

Leaf litter decomposition of Piper aduncum, Gliricidia sepium and Imperata cylindrica in the humid lowlands of Papua New Guinea

01 Mar 2001-Plant and Soil (Kluwer Academic Publishers)-Vol. 230, Iss: 1, pp 115-124
TL;DR: Piper leaf litter is a significant and easily decomposable source of K which is an important nutrient for sweet potato and the decomposition and nutrient release patterns had significant effects on the soil.
Abstract: No information is available on the decomposition and nutrient release pattern of Piper aduncum and Imperata cylindrica despite their importance in shifting cultivation systems of Papua New Guinea and other tropical regions. We conducted a litter bag study (24 weeks) on a Typic Eutropepts in the humid lowlands to assess the rate of decomposition of Piper aduncum, Imperata cylindrica and Gliricidia sepium leaves under sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). Decomposition rates of piper leaf litter were fastest followed closely by gliricidia, and both lost 50% of the leaf biomass within 10 weeks. Imperata leaf litter decomposed much slower and half-life values exceeded the period of observation. The decomposition patterns were best explained by the lignin plus polyphenol over N ratio which was lowest for piper (4.3) and highest for imperata (24.7). Gliricidia leaf litter released 79 kg N ha(-1), whereas 18 kg N ha(-1) was immobilised in the imperata litter. The mineralization of P was similar for the three species, but piper litter released large amounts of K. The decomposition and nutrient release patterns had significant effects on the soil. The soil contained significantly more water in the previous imperata plots at 13 weeks due to the relative slow decomposition of the leaves. Soil N levels were significantly reduced in the previous imperata plots due to immobilisation of N. Levels of exchangeable K were significantly increased in the previous piper plots due to the large addition of K. It can be concluded that piper leaf litter is a significant and easily decomposable source of K which is an important nutrient for sweet potato. Gliricidia leaf litter contained much N, whereas imperata leaf litter releases relatively little nutrients and keeps the soil more moist. Gliricidia fallow is more attractive than an imperata fallow for it improves the soil fertility and produces fuelwood as additional saleable products.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The study has shown large differences in biomass and nutrient stocks between the two woody fallows (piper, gliricidia) and between the woody fellows and the non-woody fallow (imperata).
Abstract: In order to understand nutrient dynamics in tropical farming systems with fallows, it is necessary to assess changes in nutrient stocks in plants, litter and soils. Nutrient stocks (soil, above ground biomass, litter) were assessed of one-year old fallows with Piper aduncum, Gliricidia sepium and Imperata cylindrica in the humid lowlands of Papua New Guinea. The experiment was conducted on a high base status soil (Typic Eutropepts), and in Papua New Guinea such soils are intensively used for agriculture. Soil samples were taken prior to fallow establisment and after one year when the fallows were slashed and above ground biomass and nutrients measured. The above ground and litter biomass of piper was 13.7 Mg dry matter ha-1, compared to 23.3 Mg ha-1 of gliricidia and 14.9 Mg ha-1 of imperata. Gliricidia produced almost 7 Mg ha-1 wood. Total above ground biomass returned to the soil when the fallows were slashed was the same for piper and gliricidia (8 Mg ha-1). Gliricidia accumulated the largest amounts of all major nutrients except for K, which was highest in the above ground piper biomass. Imperata biomass contained the lowest amount of nutrients. The largest stocks of C, N, Ca and Mg were found in the soil, whereas the majority of P was found in the above ground biomass and litter. Almost half of the total K stock of piper and gliricidia was in the biomass. During the fallow period, soil organic C significantly increased under gliricidia fallow whereas no net changes occurred in piper and imperata fallows. The study has shown large differences in biomass and nutrient stocks between the two woody fallows (piper, gliricidia) and between the woody fallows and the non-woody fallow (imperata). Short-term woody fallows are to be preferred above grass (imperata) fallows in the humid lowlands of Papua New Guinea because of higher nutrient stocks.

22 citations


Cites background from "Leaf litter decomposition of Piper ..."

  • ...Much of the N in the gliricidia leafs and litter 192 kg ha–1 is rapidly mineralised when the gliricidia fallow is slashed and becomes available to the succeeding crop Hartemink and O’Sullivan 2001 ....

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  • ...Soil moisture content in the topsoil under piper was 0.29 m3 m–3 as compared to 0.36 m3 m–3 under gliricidia Hartemink and O’Sullivan 2001 ....

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01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: In this article, the authors studied the nutrient release and decomposition patterns of three dominant crop species in a jhum cultivation system in the humid tropics of northeast India, and found that the foliage residues of Capsicum frutescens and Eleusine coracana with carbon (C)/N < 25 are of good quality, and they decomposed (t99 = 122 and 333 days, respectively) fastest and released 99% of their nutrients (C, N, and K) between 74 and 263 days of incubation.
Abstract: Litter decomposition and nutrient‐release patterns of three dominant crop species were studied in a jhum cultivation system in the humid tropics of northeast India. Crop residues showed an exponential weight‐loss pattern with time. The release of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) followed a similar pattern with weight loss, and their mineralization constants were 3.46–20.47, 2.25–18.41, and 3.82–24.70, respectively. The microbial population and fungal diversity in the decomposing litter varied with incubation time and depended mainly on the litter nutrient concentrations. Overall, the foliage residues of Capsicum frutescens and Eleusine coracana with carbon (C)/N < 25 are of good quality, and they decomposed (t99 = 122 and 333 days, respectively) fastest and released 99% of their nutrients (C, N, and K) between 74 and 263 days of incubation. Thus, all the foliage residues, particularly those of Capsicum frutescens and Eleusine coracana, can play a significant role for soil nutrient enrichment in poorly managed jhum cultivation system.

21 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of different fallows on sweet potato yield and nutrient flows and pools in Papua New Guinea was studied, where two woody fallow species ( Piper aduncum and Gliricidia sepium ) and a non-woody fallows species ( Imperata cylindrica ) were planted and slashed after one year.
Abstract: Shifting cultivation is common in the humid lowlands of Papua New Guinea but little is known about the effect of different fallows on sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas ) yield and nutrient flows and pools in these systems. An experiment was conducted in which two woody fallow species ( Piper aduncum and Gliricidia sepium ) and a non-woody fallow species ( Imperata cylindrica ) were planted and slashed after one year. Sweet potato was grown for two consecutive seasons (1 year) after which the fallows and yields were compared with yields from continuously cropped plots. The experiment was conducted on a high base status soil (Typic Eutropepts). In the first season, marketable sweet potato yield after piper and imperata was about 11 t ha-1 but yields after gliricidia and under continuous cropping were significantly lower. Vine yield was similar for the continuously cropped plots and for the sweet potato after piper and gliricidia, but significantly lower than after imperata. The effects of the fallows on sweet potato yield lasted only one season. In the second season after the fallow, sweet potato yields were higher, which was contributed to lower rainfall. Nutrient budgets showed that the three fallow species (piper, gliricidia and imperata) added insufficient amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for the removal of these nutrients by two consecutive seasons of sweet potato. From a yield point of view there seems no benefit in having a nitrogen-fixing fallow species like Gliricidia sepium in sweet potato based systems on high base status soils.

21 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Leucaena macrophylla, a tree native to southern Mexico's tropical dry forest, belongs to a genus that is popular worldwide as a component of agroforestry systems as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Leucaena macrophylla, a tree native to southern Mexico’s tropical dry forest, belongs to a genus that is popular worldwide as a component of agroforestry systems. However, despite appreciation by local communities, this species is poorly studied and has not been evaluated as a multipurpose tree in its native range. This work evaluated whether L. macrophylla has the qualities necessary to serve as a multipurpose tree for agroforestry systems and a provider of ecosystem services in its original distribution, specifically, in soil nutrient amelioration and recovery, fuelwood production, and provision of quality livestock fodder. Leaves contained high values of nitrogen and calcium, and litter decomposition was relatively rapid (~50 % of mass lost over first 6 months). Despite somewhat low wood density, this species’ high calorific value and low ash and moisture contents yielded a relatively high firewood value index (FVI = 2,594.65), suggesting high potential as a fuelwood. In terms of fodder quality, protein and digestible fiber contents were high and in vitro digestibility was adequate, as was condensed tannin concentration. It is important to mention, however, that L. macrophylla showed higher-than-ideal contents of lignin, both in fresh leaves and in litter. However, this apparently does not drastically reduce overall quality (i.e. decomposition rate and in vitro digestibility), and appropriate management techniques such as composting can mitigate its effects. Given its potential for providing a variety of ecosystem services, we recommend that L. macrophylla be installed in agroforestry systems in its native range to evaluate its effect on crop productivity.

21 citations


Cites background from "Leaf litter decomposition of Piper ..."

  • ...Important amounts of alkaline nutrients like K or Ca supplied by litter, can change the soil conditions as fast as 24 weeks, which is important for the growth of some crops (Hartemink and O’Sullivan 2001)....

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  • ...A similar dynamic of decomposition has been observed in other important agroforestry species like Gliricidia sepium, which virtually stops decomposing after 4 months, when relative lignin content are elevated, exceeding 18 % (Hartemink and O’Sullivan 2001)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that sweet potato yield can be significantly increased by inorganic or organic N applications, and after fallows were less variable than after inorganic nutrient inputs.
Abstract: This paper summarizes a series of field experiments that investigated the effects of organic and inorganic nutrients on sweet potato tuber yield in the humid lowlands of Papua New Guinea. In the first experiment, plots were planted with Piper aduncum, Gliricidia sepium and Imperata cylindrica, which were slashed after one year, whereafter sweet potato was planted. Sweet potato yield was lowest after Gliricidia fallow, but no yield differences were found after piper and imperata fallow. In the second season, there was no significant difference in sweet potato yields. The second experiment consisted of a factorial fertilizer trial with four levels of N (0, 50, 100, 150 kg ha -1 ) and two levels of K (0, 50 kg ha -1 ). Nitrogen fertilizers increased yield in the first season, but depressed tuber yields in the second and third seasons. Potassium fertilizer had no effect on marketable tuber yield. The third experiment consisted of a comparison between N from inorganic fertilizer and poultry litter at four rates (0, 50, 100, 150 kg ha -1 ). No difference was found between the inorganic fertilizer and poultry litter, and the highest yields were found at 100 kg N ha -1 . In the second season no significant response was observed. Although yield variation was considerable, this series of experiments has shown that sweet potato yield can be significantly increased by inorganic or organic N applications. Sweet potato yields after fallows were less variable than after inorganic nutrient inputs. Inputs of inorganic fertilizer or poultry litter may strongly increase or decrease tuber yields.

21 citations


Cites background from "Leaf litter decomposition of Piper ..."

  • ...These spacings are often observed in natural piper fallows (Hartemink and O’Sullivan, 2001)....

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  • ...It is hard to estimate whether allelopathic effects influenced the sweet potato yield in our experiment, although the polyphenolic content of gliricidia leaves was indeed much higher than that of piper or imperata (Hartemink and O’Sullivan, 2001)....

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  • ...However, imperata biomass returned less N to the soil, and vine biomass was lower due to the slow decomposition of the biomass and the N immobilization (Hartemink and O’Sullivan, 2001)....

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References
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Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 1982-Ecology
TL;DR: Two general analytical approaches to the examination of decomposition data are reviewed and single and double exponential models best describe the loss of mass over time with an element of biological realism.
Abstract: The study of plant litter decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems commonly employs litter bags to compare the loss of mass among species, among sites, and under various experimental manipulations, or to investigate the process itself. Analysis of the resulting data is quite variable among investigators, and at times inappropriate. Two general analytical approaches to the examination of decomposition data are reviewed. Analysis of variance is useful if the intent is to compare treatment means, but does not directly test hypotheses regarding decomposition rates. If the intent is to determine rate constants, than fitting mathematical models to data is the more appropriate analysis. Single and double exponential models best describe the loss of mass over time with an element of biological realism. See full-text article at JSTOR

937 citations

Book
01 Nov 1996
TL;DR: Pathways and processes in decomposition foraging, feeding and feedback manipulation of plant litter quality synchrony and soil organic matter - theory into practice?
Abstract: Pathways and processes in decomposition foraging, feeding and feedback manipulation of plant litter quality synchrony and soil organic matter - theory into practice? building soil organic matter modelling - providing the framework.

933 citations

Journal ArticleDOI

786 citations


"Leaf litter decomposition of Piper ..." refers methods in this paper

  • ...Lignin was determined by the procedure of Van Soest and Wine (1968), and polyphenol by that of Dalzell and Kerven (1998), using purifiedLeucaena pallidacondensed tannin as standard....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the chemical composition and N release patterns of legumes being used in tropical agroecosystems were determined in a laboratory experiment and three patterns of net N mineralization emerged during the 8-weeks.
Abstract: Leguminous plant materials used as mulches, green manures and cover crops are generally assumed to provide a readily-available source of N to crops. However, little is known about the chemical composition and N release patterns of the variety of legumes being used in tropical agroecosystems. N release patterns from the leaflets of 10 troplcal legumes and rice straw were determined in a laboratory experiment. Ground leaf material was allowed to decompose in an acid soil (pH 4.5) for 8 weeks and the soil was analyzed periodically for extractable NH4+-N and NO3∼, -N. N release in the soil plus plant material were compared to that of the soil without plant material added and related to the N, lignin and polyphenolic concentrations of the leaflets. Three patterns of net N mineralization emerged during the 8-weeks. One pattern exhibited by the control soil, rice straw and leaves of two of the leguminous plants was a low, positive net mineralization. Another pattern showed much higher rates of mineralization than the control soil and the third pattern showed initial net immobilization followed by low but positive net mineralization rates. The amount of N mineralized during the 8 weeks as compared to the control soil ranged from +46 to −20% of the N added in plant material. Net mineralization was not correlated to % N or % lignin in the leaf material but was found to be negatively correlated to the polyphenolic concentration, r = −0.63, or the polyphenolic-to-N ratio, r = −0.75. Mineralization in excess of the control soil was found only for materials with a polyphenolic-to-N ratio

724 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the decomposition and nutrient release patterns of three woody agroforestry plant species (Acioa barteri, Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala), maize (Zea mays) stover and rice (Oryza sativa) straw, were investigated under field conditions in the humid tropics, using litterbags of three mesh sizes (0.5, 2 and 7 mm) which allowed differential access of soil fauna.
Abstract: Decomposition and nutrient release patterns of prunings of three woody agroforestry plant species (Acioa barteri, Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala), maize (Zea mays) stover and rice (Oryza sativa) straw, were investigated under field conditions in the humid tropics, using litterbags of three mesh sizes (0.5, 2 and 7 mm) which allowed differential access of soil fauna. The decomposition rate constants ranged from 0.01 to 0.26 week−1, decreasing in the following order; Gliricidia prunings >Leucaena prunings > rice straw > maize stover >Acioa prunings. Negative correlations were observed between decomposition rate constants and C:N ratio (P < 0.004), percent lignin (P < 0.014) and polyphenol content (P < 0.053) of plant residues. A positive correlation was observed between decomposition rate constant and mesh-size of litterbag (P < 0.057). These results indicate that both the chemical composition of plant residues and nature of the decomposer played an important role in plant residue decomposition. Nutrient release differed with quality of plant residues and litterbag mesh-size. Total N, P, Ca and Mg contents of plant residues decreased with time for Gliricidia and Leucaena prunings, maize stover, and rice straw, and increased with time for Acioa prunings. There was some indication of N immobilization in maize stover and rice straw; P immobilization in Leucaena prunings and rice straw; and Ca immobilization in maize stover, rice straw and Gliricidia and Leucaena prunings. Acioa prunings immobilized N, P, Ca and Mg. All plant residues released K rapidly. Nutrient release increased with increasing mesh-size of litterbags, suggesting that soil faunal activities enhanced nutrient mobilization.

577 citations


"Leaf litter decomposition of Piper ..." refers background in this paper

  • ...The rapid initial loss of K, particularly from the piper leaf litter, is commonly found in litter bag studies (Budelman, 1988; Palm and Sanchez, 1990; Tian et al., 1992a)....

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  • ...…number of studies have been conducted under laboratory conditions (Handayanto et al., 1997; Lupwayi and Haque, 1998; Palm and Sanchez, 1991; Tian et al., 1992b) or under field conditions with no crop after the fallow (Budelman, 1988; Handayanto et al., 1994; Mwiinga et al., 1994; Oglesby…...

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