Caloric, Elemental, and Nutritive Changes in Decomposing Juncus Roemerianus Leaves
1974
Cruz, Armando A. de la | Gabriel, Benjamin C.
In situ decomposition rate of Juncus roemerianus (Juncaceae) leaves determined by litterbag method was 40% per year. Caloric, elemental, and proximate nutritive analyses of leaves at various stages of life and decay–classified as young, mature, standing dead, partially decayed, decomposed fragments, and particulate detritus–showed the following: (a) an increase in caloric content (4630—4911 g cal/ash—free g); (b) a decrease in carbon (49.75%—6.38%), nitrogen (1.09%—0.57%), and phosphorus (0.22%—0.17%); and (c) a decrease in crude fiber (37%—9%), carbohydrate (52%—11%), protein (9%—4%) and fats (2.0%—0.85%). Particulate detritus retrieved from litterbags decomposed in incubation flasks at the rate of 50% in 36 days. At intervals of 0, 5, 13, 25, and 36 days, analyses of detritus showed the following: (a) a decrease in organic content (67%—32%) and carbon (5.6%—3.2%); and (b) an increase in nitrogen (0.44%—1.21%) and respiration rates (0.11%—1.10 mg O₂ hr— ¹ ash—free g— ¹). The increase in nitrogen of detritus and consequently protein is attributed to conversion of plant tissue to microbial protoplasm as evidenced by increased respiration rates.
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