POTENTIAL OF NUTRIENT INPUT AND RELEASED FROMDECOMPOSING LEAF LITTER OF THREE DOMINANT TREE SPECIESFOUND IN A SUBTROPICAL SEMI EVERGREEN RIPARIAN FORESTOF DIKHU RIVER, NAGALAND, INDIADevlin Leishangthem and M. Romeo SinghAbstract Studies on nutrient dynamic in riparian ecosystem is very less compared with the upland forest ecosystem.The main aim of the study was to compare the rate of nutrient input and release through decompositionfrom leaf litterfall of three dominant tree species, i.e., Melia azedarach L., Terminalia chebula Retz. and Duabangagrandiflora (DC.) Walp. found in a subtropical semi evergreen riparian forest of Dikhu river, Nagaland,India. The concentration of the initial composition of plant nutrients viz., C, N, P and K was analaysed fromthe grounded air-dried leaf litter and nutrient released through decomposition from the leaf litter wasestimated by using litter trap approach following standard methods. The initial concentration of nutrientsin all the 3 leaf species followed the trend as (1.12%) N > (0.21%) K > (0.098%) P in M. azedarach, (1.40%) N> (0.17%) K > (0.086%) P in T. chebula and (1.98%) N > (0.22%) K > (0.074%) P in D. grandiflora. Carboncontent was highest in the entire 3 leaf litter component and followed the pattern as D. grandiflora (65.50%)>T. chebula (60.50%)>M. azedarach (51.80%). In M. azedarach and D. grandiflora, N is accumulated during theinitial phase of decomposition and released in the later phase. However, in T. chebula, N is released in theinitial phase and immobilization in the later phase. In all the 3 species, the released of C follows a similarpattern by characterizing early immobilization in the first 9 months (0 to 243 days). A rapid rate of Preleased was observed at the early decomposition period. There observed a faster decrease of K (%) from allthe decomposing leaf litter. In conclusion, it was found that differences in chemical composition and nutrientsrelease dynamics during decomposition of leaf litter was observed in all the 3 tree species. |