Effect of Albizzia lebbeck plantation on the nutrient cycling in a semi-arid grazingland
2002
Sundaravalli, M.V. | Paliwal, K (Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai (India). Department of Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences)
In this study, monthly changes in concentrations of various nutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) and their uptake, accumulation, transfer and release in both plant parts and soil were studied in grasses grown under Albizzia plantation and in the open grazing land in the semi-arid region of Madurai. At both sites, the maximum concentrations of all nutrients were recorded in the live shoot, followed by dead shoot, below ground and litter. The average nutrient accumulation in the plant parts as well as in the soil was in the order of N?K?Ca?Mg?P. Among the sites, the nutrients concentration in plant components and the uptake from the soil were significantly higher (P?0.05) in the plantation site that in the open grazing land. The soil moisture content also showed significant increase under Albizzia plantation than in the open grazingland. Of the total uptake about 80% of nutriets, were transferred to above ground plant parts and very little was transferred to below ground parts. At both sites, the nutrients return to the soil through root was lower than that of litter disappearance. The study reveals that Albizzia trees can increase the nutrient content of under storey grasses by their rapid leaf turnover and decomposition of nutrient rich litter, which can result in significant increase in soil fertility.
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