Open AccessLeaf Litter Decomposition of Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz under Field and Laboratory Microcosm in Northeast India
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
indian journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.236
H-Index - 7
ISSN - 0304-5250
DOI - 10.55362/ije/2022/3486
Subject(s) - microcosm , litter , plant litter , bamboo , zoology , nitrogen , horticulture , abiotic component , decomposition , chemistry , botany , nutrient , environmental chemistry , biology , agronomy , ecology , organic chemistry
Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz is one of the most abundant bamboo species of Mizoram, Northeast India contributing about Melocanna baccifera 95% of the total bamboo resources. This study was aimed to assess the rate of leaf litter decomposition of leaves in natural forest M. baccifera(FS) and laboratory microcosm (MC). A total of 36 litter bags measuring (15 x 15 cm, 2 mm mesh) containing 10g of air-dried litter material were placed in FS, and 36 litter bags of 10 x 10 cm filled with ~5 g of litter material were placed in the MC. MC was made from bottom sealed PVC pipe of 12 cm diameter and 16 cm height and filled with layers of 2/3 mineral soil and 1/3 with organic soil from the forest. A total of 6 litter bags were retrieved from FS and MC at monthly intervals for 6 months. Litter decay rate was higher in FS as compared to MC and litter mass remaining at the end of the study was 7 % and 13 % in FS and MC, respectively. Consequently, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mass remaining were 11.2% and 11.8% in MC and 7.3% and 5.6% in FS. Annual decay constant (k) was 2.2 and 1.4, respectively in FS and MC. Overall, mass loss rate and C and N release from litter was significantly higher in FS compared to MC indicating more complex synergistic effects of abiotic and M. bacciferabiotic factors in decomposition at the FS site compared to MC site.