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ALLELOPATHIC EFFECTS OF DECAYING LITTER OF DOMINANT TREES AND THEIR ASSOCIATED SOIL IN A LOWLAND FOREST COMMUNITY
Author(s) -
Lodhi M. A. K.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1978.tb06076.x
Subject(s) - biology , allelopathy , plant litter , litter , soil water , botany , agronomy , ecology , germination , nutrient
Phytotoxins released by the dominant species in a lowland forest showed highest accumulations in their respective stands. The accumulation of such phytotoxins corresponded with the amount of litter produced and its decaying rate. The release of phytotoxins and their activity depended on whether they were free or bound, and on their solubility. Therefore, the phytotoxins in soils were highly variable in amounts from one species stand to another species stand, during the same and different times of the year. The persistent accumulation of phytotoxins from all dominant tree species continues to influence the soil properties around the trees. Fourteen phytotoxins were isolated from the leaf litter and the soil. Seven persistent toxins were quantified in soils under different tree stands at various times of the year. The cycle of release of bound and free phenolics is discussed.