Decomposition- and nitrogen-mineralization patterns of Leucaena leucocephala and Cassia siamea mulch under tropical semiarid conditions in Kenya

被引:41
作者
Jama, BA [1 ]
Nair, PKR [1 ]
机构
[1] UNIV FLORIDA, SCH FOREST RESOURCES & CONSERVAT, GAINESVILLE, FL 32611 USA
关键词
alleycropping; biphasic decomposition; C:N ratio; litter bags; mulch quality; polyphenols;
D O I
10.1007/BF00009338
中图分类号
S3 [农学(农艺学)];
学科分类号
0901 ;
摘要
In agroforestry systems, loppings from trees and shrubs are commonly used, often as mulch, as sources of nutrients for interplanted crops. Therefore, it is important to understand the rates of mulch decomposition. This paper reports the results of a study on the decomposition and nitrogen (N)-mineralization patterns of the leaves, small twigs, and mulch (leaves plus twigs) of Leucaena leucocephala and Cassia siamea in a field experiment in an Alfisol in semiarid Kenya. Plant materials contained in 5mm nylon bags were placed below or on the soil surface in an alleycropping system involving the two tree species, with maize (Zea mays L.) as the intercrop. For plant materials of both species (except Leucaena leaves), there were two phases of decompositions: an initial rapid phase and a slower second one; Leucaena leaves had only a single phase. When placed below the soil surface, the decomposition rates of both Leucaena and Cassia mulch were similar (about 12% week(-1) in the first phase and 1% week(-1) in the second phase). When placed on the soil surface, Leucaena mulch decomposed 1.3 times more rapidly than Cassia mulch in the first phase. The patterns of N release from the mulch of both species were similar to those of mass loss. In general, mulch-decomposition and N-release rates of both species were related more to their C:N ratios than to polyphenol contents; while C:N ratio predicted the rate of first (rapid) phase, the rate of the second (slow) phase appeared to be regulated by lignin and polyphenol contents.
引用
收藏
页码:275 / 285
页数:11
相关论文
共 37 条
[1]  
Allison F. E., 1973, Soil organic matter and its role in crop production.
[2]   PROTEIN-BINDING PHENOLICS AND THE INHIBITION OF NITRIFICATION IN SUBALPINE BALSAM FIR SOILS [J].
BALDWIN, IT ;
OLSON, RK ;
REINERS, WA .
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY, 1983, 15 (04) :419-423
[3]  
BARTHOLOMEW WV, 1965, SOIL NITROGEN, P287
[5]   DECOMPOSITION OF BARLEY STRAW IN A SUB-ARCTIC SOIL IN THE FIELD [J].
COCHRAN, VL .
BIOLOGY AND FERTILITY OF SOILS, 1991, 10 (04) :227-232
[6]   THE NITROGEN MINERALIZATION RATE OF LEGUME RESIDUES IN SOIL AS INFLUENCED BY THEIR POLYPHENOL, LIGNIN, AND NITROGEN CONTENTS [J].
FOX, RH ;
MYERS, RJK ;
VALLIS, I .
PLANT AND SOIL, 1990, 129 (02) :251-259
[7]  
HAGVAR S, 1981, PEDOBIOLOGIA, V22, P385
[8]   NITROGEN RELEASE FROM PRUNINGS OF LEGUME HEDGEROW TREES IN RELATION TO QUALITY OF THE PRUNINGS AND INCUBATION METHOD [J].
HANDAYANTO, E ;
CADISCH, G ;
GILLER, KE .
PLANT AND SOIL, 1994, 160 (02) :237-248
[9]   EFFECTS OF INITIAL CHEMICAL COMPOSITION ON DECOMPOSITION OF ROOTS OF 3 GRASS SPECIES [J].
HERMAN, WA ;
MCGILL, WB ;
DORMAAR, JF .
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, 1977, 57 (02) :205-215
[10]   MICROBIAL DECOMPOSITION OF TREE AND SHRUB LEAF LITTER .1. WEIGHT-LOSS AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF DECOMPOSING LITTER [J].
HOWARD, PJA ;
HOWARD, DM .
OIKOS, 1974, 25 (03) :341-352