Journal of Environmental Biology

Nitrogen release pattern in decomposing leaf litter of banj oak

and chir pine seedlings leaf under glass house condition

Samina Usman*

Centre for Social Forestry and Eco-Rehabilitation, Allahabad- 211 001, India

*Corresponding Author email : samina_usman@yahoo.com

Publication Data

Paper received:

04 November 2010

Revised received:

25 May 2011

Re-revised received:

29 September 2011

Re-re-revised received:

17 December 2011

Accepted:

17 March 2012

Abstract

Decomposition rate for leaf litter of banj oak (Quercus leucotrichophora) and chir pine (Pinus roxburghii), seedlings was studied over a period of one year, under glass house condition. The leaf litter of Quercus leucotrichophora decomposed faster as compared to Pinus roxburghii. Initially during 0-62 days of placement, the decomposition rate was slower for leaf litter of both species but after 123 days of placement it was 53% for Quercus leucotrichophora leaf litter and 33% for Pinus roxburghii leaf litter. The Quercus leucotrichophora leaf litter was completely decomposed after 11 months; however, 65% weight loss was recorded in Pinus roxburghii? leaf litter after 12 months study. In Quercus leucotrichophora leaf litter the, initial (at the start of decomposition) nitrogen concentration was much higher (1.15%) than that of Pinus roxburghii leaf litter(1.41%), release of N was slower in chir pine leaf litter compared to banj oak leaf litter. Material with higher C/N ratio had longer duration of immobilization and in turn slower release phase. The concentration of N increased approximately linearly as a function of mass loss towards the end of annual cycle. Concentration of N was about 1.2 to 1.9 fold higher than the initial litter for seedlings of both the species. ???????

Key words

Banj oak, Chir pine, Seedling, Leaf litter

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