Litter production and nutrient return in tropical dry deciduous teak forests of Satpura plateau in central India
2002
Pande, P.K. (Forest Research Institute, Dehradun (India). Botany Division) | Meshram, P.B. (Centre for Forestry Research and Human Resource Development, Chhindwara (India))
Present study deals with quantification of litter production, seasonal variations in litter nutrient concentration and nutrient return to the forest floor as influenced by insect defoliation and past disturbances in some tropical dry deciduous teak (Tectona grandis Linn.) forests of Satpura plateau in chhindwara forest division in Madhya pradesh, India. On the basis of density-diameter relationship of tree, the forest stands were categorized as least disturbed (site-I) and highly disturbed (site_III). Site-I and III were the most and least disturbed sites, respectively. Site-II was heavily attacked by teak defoliator (Hyblaea puera Cram ) and skeletonizer (Eutectona machaeralis Walker) that caused premature leaf fall in the month of September. The magnitude (kg ha(-1)) of annual leaf fall followed the order: 4149 (II)?2868 (I)?2576 (III), while annual litter fall (kg ha(-1)) followed the order: 4536 (II)?3305 (I)?3276 (III). The contribution of leaf litter in total litter fall ranged between 79% (III )-91% (II) among the three sites. Site-II which is attacked by insect pest, showed higher contribution of leaf litter to the total litter fall. The peak leaf and litter fall periods were January and March for all the sites. Site-II showed bimodal leaf fall pattern due to heavy attack of insect pest. Concentration of Ca and N were higher than K, Mg and P in all fractions of litter irrespective of sites. Return of nutrients was in the order: Ca?N?K?Mg?P. The amount of nutrients returned due to insect pest attack on the trees have implications on the patterns of nutrient cycling and forest productivity.
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