Abstract
A study on patterns of litter production and nutrient return in six tree species of age ranging from 13 to 16 years was carried out at Main Research Station, Dharwad. Litterfall was collected from three quadrats of size 2.25 m2 in each plantation at monthly intervals for one year. Litter was separated into different components like leaf, twig, bark, fruit/pod, flower wherever possible and analysed for nutrient concentration, from which nutrient return was computed.
Litterfall by the tree species studied varied from 4099 kg ha-1 in teak to 8313 kg ha-1 in eucalyptus. Contribution of leaf litter to the total litterfall was more than other plant parts. Plant parts showed variations in nutrient concentrations though generally the concentrations of Ca, K and N were higher than other nutrients. Sissoo returned highest N, P, K and Ca among the six plantations while teak returned least nutrients among the six plantations. The nutrient return followed the order Ca > K > N in sissoo and catechu; Ca > N > K in teak and casuarinas and K > Ca > N in bamboo and eucalyptus. The return of P and Mg were lower in all the cases.
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