International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Litter Quality and Nitrogen Mineralization of Dominant Tree Species in the Ratargul Swamp Forests, Bangladesh
Abstract
The present study aimed to study the relationship between litter quality and nitrogen mineralization rate in relation to the adaptation of the dominant tree species Pongamia pinnata, Barringtonia acutangula and Crateva religiosa of the Ratargul freshwater swamp forest in Bangladesh. Three plots were selected as replicates from the forest to collect soil and plant leaf and stem bark samples in such an way that all three species were present in each plot. Fully expanded youngest leaves and stem barks of the plants were collected for the determination of concentrations of nutrient elements such as N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg and Fe. Defensive chemicals such as phenolics and tannin contents were also determined in leaf samples. Leaf litter of the three species was incubated with soil collected from the same forest in order to examine the effects of leaf litter on the amount of mineralized N in soil. Significant difference was found in N contents of leaf (P < 0.05) and bark (P < 0.02) among the three plant species with the highest mean value in bark (0.663%) and leaf (1.263%) of C. religiosa and that of the lowest in bark (0.233%) and leaf (0.683%) of B. acutangula. Significant difference was also observed in Fe concentration in bark (P < 0.0001) among the three plant species with the highest mean value (0.00085%) in bark of C. religiosa and the lowest in bark (0.00074%) of B. acutangula. Mineralized N in soil incubated with leaf litter decreased significantly compared with that of control soil (without litter) indicating the immobilization of nitrogen in soil. Overall, data of the present study showed interspecific differences in litter quality which could be related with the nitrogen mineralization indicating the implications for the adaptation of the plants of the wetland habitats.
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References
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