Litter Decay: Weight Loss and Nitrogen Dynamics of Jack Leaf Litter on Open and Shaded Sites

Abstract

The decomposition pattern of jack leaf litter (Artocarpus heteroohyllus Lam.) was ascertained by the litter bag study in an agroforestry home garden of Southern Thiruvananathapuram, Kelala. The weight loss from litter followed a linear pattern, with the decay being faster beneath the tree canopy compared to that in the open unshaded area. Soil moisture appeared to influence the rate of decomposition more than soil temperature, owing to its regulatory role on the population and activity of the soil organisms. Nutrient dynamics of the decomposing litter revealed the nitrogen contents in residual litter to increase initially at both sites and decrease during the final stages of decay. The percentage of nitrogen remaining in the litter at the end of decay were 1.62 and 1.59 on the open and shaded sites respectively