Litter production, decomposition and nutrient release dynam-ics of Ochlandra setigera, a rare endemic bamboo species of Nilgiri biosphere were studied during 2011-2012 using the standard litter bag technique. Annual l...Litter production, decomposition and nutrient release dynam-ics of Ochlandra setigera, a rare endemic bamboo species of Nilgiri biosphere were studied during 2011-2012 using the standard litter bag technique. Annual litter production was 1.981 t？ha-1 and was continuous throughout the year with monthly variations. Litterfall followed a tri-phasic pattern with two major peaks in November, 2011 and January, 2012 and a minor peak in July, 2011. The rate of decomposition in O. setigera was a good fit to the exponential decay model of Olson （1963）. Litter quality and climatic conditions of the study site （maximum tem-perature, monthly rainfall and relative humidity） influenced the rate of decomposition. Nutrient release from the decomposing litter mass was in rank order N=Mg＆gt;K=Ca＆gt;P. Nutrient release from litter was con-tinuous and it was in synchrony with growth of new culms. Study of litter dynamics is needed before introduction of a bamboo species into degraded or marginal lands or Agroforestry systems.展开更多
Variations of wood specific gravity and extractive contents from pith to bark and from base to the top of tree were investigated in a 14-year-old commercial pulpwood species Sterculia setigera Del. Growing in savanna ...Variations of wood specific gravity and extractive contents from pith to bark and from base to the top of tree were investigated in a 14-year-old commercial pulpwood species Sterculia setigera Del. Growing in savanna zone in Nigeria. Tree mean specific gravity averaged 0.37; wood at the base had significant higher specific gravity than those at the top while it increased from pith to bark. For extractive content mean value was 1.20% for wood and 1.72% for bark; i[t varied significantly between trees and from base of the tree to the top and from pith to the bark. Extractive content at the butt and breast height is more than double of the value at the top of the tree. The high extractive content at the base is similar to high specific gravity observed for wood samples from the base. Extractive content of the bast was significantly higher than that of the wood. The low specific gravity show possible suitability of the species for paper making in Nigerian paper mills. The wood of Sterculia setigera showed a significant variation between- and within-trees in the two properties considered, though the wood is light with low extractive content; it is however a potential raw material for large scale pulpwood production in Nigeria.展开更多
基金financially supported by Kerala Forest Department
文摘Litter production, decomposition and nutrient release dynam-ics of Ochlandra setigera, a rare endemic bamboo species of Nilgiri biosphere were studied during 2011-2012 using the standard litter bag technique. Annual litter production was 1.981 t？ha-1 and was continuous throughout the year with monthly variations. Litterfall followed a tri-phasic pattern with two major peaks in November, 2011 and January, 2012 and a minor peak in July, 2011. The rate of decomposition in O. setigera was a good fit to the exponential decay model of Olson （1963）. Litter quality and climatic conditions of the study site （maximum tem-perature, monthly rainfall and relative humidity） influenced the rate of decomposition. Nutrient release from the decomposing litter mass was in rank order N=Mg＆gt;K=Ca＆gt;P. Nutrient release from litter was con-tinuous and it was in synchrony with growth of new culms. Study of litter dynamics is needed before introduction of a bamboo species into degraded or marginal lands or Agroforestry systems.
文摘Variations of wood specific gravity and extractive contents from pith to bark and from base to the top of tree were investigated in a 14-year-old commercial pulpwood species Sterculia setigera Del. Growing in savanna zone in Nigeria. Tree mean specific gravity averaged 0.37; wood at the base had significant higher specific gravity than those at the top while it increased from pith to bark. For extractive content mean value was 1.20% for wood and 1.72% for bark; i[t varied significantly between trees and from base of the tree to the top and from pith to the bark. Extractive content at the butt and breast height is more than double of the value at the top of the tree. The high extractive content at the base is similar to high specific gravity observed for wood samples from the base. Extractive content of the bast was significantly higher than that of the wood. The low specific gravity show possible suitability of the species for paper making in Nigerian paper mills. The wood of Sterculia setigera showed a significant variation between- and within-trees in the two properties considered, though the wood is light with low extractive content; it is however a potential raw material for large scale pulpwood production in Nigeria.
