Litterfall seasonal dynamics and leaf-litter turnover in cocoa agroforests established on past forest lands or savannah

Nutrient cycling in cocoa agroforestry systems (cAFS) is complex and poorly understood. To better understand the mass flow of carbon and nutrients into the soil sub-system under various contexts we quantified the mass flow of litterfall, its composition and seasonal variations in different agrofores...

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Autores principales: Saj, S., Nijmeijer, A., Nieboukaho, J.D.E., Lauri, P.E., Harmand, J.M.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/113224
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author Saj, S.
Nijmeijer, A.
Nieboukaho, J.D.E.
Lauri, P.E.
Harmand, J.M.
author_browse Harmand, J.M.
Lauri, P.E.
Nieboukaho, J.D.E.
Nijmeijer, A.
Saj, S.
author_facet Saj, S.
Nijmeijer, A.
Nieboukaho, J.D.E.
Lauri, P.E.
Harmand, J.M.
author_sort Saj, S.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Nutrient cycling in cocoa agroforestry systems (cAFS) is complex and poorly understood. To better understand the mass flow of carbon and nutrients into the soil sub-system under various contexts we quantified the mass flow of litterfall, its composition and seasonal variations in different agroforestry systems in Bokito (Central Cameroon). We studied litterfall dynamics and in situ leaf-litter cycling of cAFS established on past forest lands (F-cAFS) and savannah (S-cAFS). We also studied the decomposition of cocoa and associated tree leaf-litter in litterbags. Local secondary semi-deciduous forests were included as control. Annual litterfall in full-grown cAFS (> 15 years old) was high (9.4 Mg ha−1 y−1) and represented ca. 67% of litterfall in control forests. In full-grown cAFS, associated tree leaf-litter contributed to litterfall the most and ranged between 60 and 70% of the total amount recorded (6.3 Mg ha−1 y−1). The quantities and dynamics of the litter components monitored were similar in full-grown S- and F-cAFS. The microclimate was best buffered in forests and least buffered in young S-cAFS but could not be linked to leaf-litter decomposition. Forest leaf litterfall was higher and tended to cycle faster than total leaf-litter of cAFS, whose decomposition appeared limited by cocoa leaf-litter quality. Our study underlines (i) the critical contribution of associated trees to the nutrient cycle of agroecosystems established on poor soils and, (ii) the ability of farmers to channel associated tree communities towards similar functioning despite different past land-uses.
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spelling CGSpace1132242024-08-27T10:37:14Z Litterfall seasonal dynamics and leaf-litter turnover in cocoa agroforests established on past forest lands or savannah Saj, S. Nijmeijer, A. Nieboukaho, J.D.E. Lauri, P.E. Harmand, J.M. agroforestry cocoa plant litter decomposition Nutrient cycling in cocoa agroforestry systems (cAFS) is complex and poorly understood. To better understand the mass flow of carbon and nutrients into the soil sub-system under various contexts we quantified the mass flow of litterfall, its composition and seasonal variations in different agroforestry systems in Bokito (Central Cameroon). We studied litterfall dynamics and in situ leaf-litter cycling of cAFS established on past forest lands (F-cAFS) and savannah (S-cAFS). We also studied the decomposition of cocoa and associated tree leaf-litter in litterbags. Local secondary semi-deciduous forests were included as control. Annual litterfall in full-grown cAFS (> 15 years old) was high (9.4 Mg ha−1 y−1) and represented ca. 67% of litterfall in control forests. In full-grown cAFS, associated tree leaf-litter contributed to litterfall the most and ranged between 60 and 70% of the total amount recorded (6.3 Mg ha−1 y−1). The quantities and dynamics of the litter components monitored were similar in full-grown S- and F-cAFS. The microclimate was best buffered in forests and least buffered in young S-cAFS but could not be linked to leaf-litter decomposition. Forest leaf litterfall was higher and tended to cycle faster than total leaf-litter of cAFS, whose decomposition appeared limited by cocoa leaf-litter quality. Our study underlines (i) the critical contribution of associated trees to the nutrient cycle of agroecosystems established on poor soils and, (ii) the ability of farmers to channel associated tree communities towards similar functioning despite different past land-uses. 2021-04 2021-04-06T05:27:26Z 2021-04-06T05:27:26Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/113224 en Limited Access Springer Saj, S., Nijmeijer, A., Nieboukaho, J.D.E., Lauri, P.E. and Harmand, J.M., 2021. Litterfall seasonal dynamics and leaf-litter turnover in cocoa agroforests established on past forest lands or savannah. Agroforestry Systems. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-021-00602-0
spellingShingle agroforestry
cocoa
plant litter
decomposition
Saj, S.
Nijmeijer, A.
Nieboukaho, J.D.E.
Lauri, P.E.
Harmand, J.M.
Litterfall seasonal dynamics and leaf-litter turnover in cocoa agroforests established on past forest lands or savannah
title Litterfall seasonal dynamics and leaf-litter turnover in cocoa agroforests established on past forest lands or savannah
title_full Litterfall seasonal dynamics and leaf-litter turnover in cocoa agroforests established on past forest lands or savannah
title_fullStr Litterfall seasonal dynamics and leaf-litter turnover in cocoa agroforests established on past forest lands or savannah
title_full_unstemmed Litterfall seasonal dynamics and leaf-litter turnover in cocoa agroforests established on past forest lands or savannah
title_short Litterfall seasonal dynamics and leaf-litter turnover in cocoa agroforests established on past forest lands or savannah
title_sort litterfall seasonal dynamics and leaf litter turnover in cocoa agroforests established on past forest lands or savannah
topic agroforestry
cocoa
plant litter
decomposition
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/113224
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AT nijmeijera litterfallseasonaldynamicsandleaflitterturnoverincocoaagroforestsestablishedonpastforestlandsorsavannah
AT nieboukahojde litterfallseasonaldynamicsandleaflitterturnoverincocoaagroforestsestablishedonpastforestlandsorsavannah
AT lauripe litterfallseasonaldynamicsandleaflitterturnoverincocoaagroforestsestablishedonpastforestlandsorsavannah
AT harmandjm litterfallseasonaldynamicsandleaflitterturnoverincocoaagroforestsestablishedonpastforestlandsorsavannah