Nutrient recycling through litter production in young plantations of acacia nilotica and eucalyptus tereticornis in a highly alkaline soil
1987; Elsevier BV; Volume: 22; Issue: 1-2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/0378-1127(87)90095-8
ISSN1872-7042
AutoresH. S. Gill, I. P. Abrol, J. S. Samra,
Tópico(s)Seedling growth and survival studies
ResumoA field study was conducted from July, 1982 to June, 1986 to investigate the litter production and nutrient recycling behaviour of young acacia and eucalyptus plantations raised on a highly alkaline soil. Experimental results showed that litter production in an acacia plantation was significantly higher than in a eucalyptus plantation of the same age and stocking rate during all of the said years. Variation in total annual litter yield during the observed period ranged from 1027 to 1125 kg ha−1 in eucalyptus and from 2537 to 5746 kg ha−1 in acacia. Winter season (November–February) accounted for nearly 40 and 55% of the annual litter-fall in eucalyptus and acacia plantations, respectively. Concentrations of N, P, S and K were significantly higher in acacia litter than in eucalyptus litter. The opposite was true for Ca, Mg, Na, Fe and Mn accumulation, but annually recycled quantities of all nutrients were significantly more in acacia than in eucalyptus. The seasonal recycling trend of these nutrients indicated a high degree of relationship with the seasonal litter production pattern of the two plantations. Concentrations of almost all the nutrients in the litter tended to decline with successive growth years notwithstanding seasonal fluctuations. An ameliorating effect of both plantations on the soil was also observed. Good decomposability and low Na accumulation in the litter of acacia favour raising acacia plantations on highly alkaline sites for their amelioration. Considerably greater accumulation of Na in litter of eucalyptus seems to deter not only the soil reclamation process but also the plant growth.
Referência(s)