Litterfall and soil nutrient dynamics in three coffee-based agroforestry cropping systems
1995
Lapitan, L.C. Jr.
Results of the study revealed that litterfall varied greatly according to cropping system. It was highest in CS sub 1 [coffee + kakawate + dapdap + blackpepper] at an annual total of 4,386.2 kg/ha followed by CS sub 3 [coffee + kakawate + banana + black pepper] with 4,188.0 kg/ha while CS sub 2 [coffee + banana + guyabano] had an annual output of only 1,376.0 kg/ha production in all cropping systems consisted mainly of leaves. Moreover, the data showed that leaf litterfall was continuous throughout the study period while non-leaf litterfall. It was also found that the bulk of litterfall was largely seasonal. Litterfall also varied among species. Generally, the proportions of nutrients returned to the soil followed the order NKCaMgP. The rates of litter decay were different among cropping systems. The general pattern from the most released to the most retained nutrient in this study was KMgCaPN. Generally, the nitrogen, phosporus, and potassium contents of the topsoil and the subsoil were similarly affected by cropping system and surface activities. On the other hand, calcium content of the subsoil was not significantly affected by either cropping system or surface activities but the interaction between these two factors significantly affected subsoil Ca content. As far as magnesium and cation exchange capacity (CEC) are concerned, the trends were CS sub 1CS sub 3CS sub 2 and SA sub 2SA sub 1SA sub 3 for the topsoil. These two factors failed to significantly affect subsoil Mg content but cropping system did for CEC. The trend was CS sub 1CS sub 2Cs sub 3. On the other hand, topsoil pH was statistically the same for all cropping systems and surface activities while the interaction between these two factors significantly affected subsoil pH
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