LITTERFALL DYNAMICS, DECOMPOSITION AND NUTRIENT RELEASE PATTERNS IN Gmelina arborea ROXB. PLANTATIONS, SOUTHWESTERN, NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1006-4958Keywords:
Gmelina arborea, Decomposition, Litterfall dynamics, Nutrient release, SouthwesternAbstract
This study quantified litterfall production, decomposition dynamics, and nutrient release patterns in an 11-year-old Gmelina arborea plantation in the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Southwestern Nigeria. Monthly litterfall was collected over six months using litter traps, while decomposition was assessed using a litterbag experiment over 180 days. Organic carbon (OC), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) dynamics were analyzed. Litterfall exhibited seasonal variation, peaking toward the late dry season. Decomposition followed a negative exponential model with a high decay constant (k = 2.946 yr⁻¹; R² = 0.976), resulting in 76.66% mass loss within 180 days. Nutrient release was element-specific, with rapid depletion of K and P, declining to 0.01% and 0.88%, respectively, while N and OC decreased more gradually, with evidence of temporary nitrogen immobilization. The sequence of nutrient loss (K > P > N > OC) highlights the dual role of litter as a rapid source of mobile nutrients and a slower contributor to soil carbon and nitrogen pools. The rapid decomposition rate suggests efficient nutrient cycling but limited long-term carbon stabilization. These findings indicate that while Gmelina arborea supports short-term soil fertility, its contribution to stable soil carbon pools is constrained. Integrating slower-decomposing species is recommended to enhance carbon sequestration and ecosystem sustainability in plantation systems.
References
Akinsola, F.A., Amapu, I.Y., Oyinlola, E.Y., Marieme, D & Aboyeji, C.M (2024). Predicting Decomposition Rate, Mass Loss and Nutrient Release of Single and Mixed Leaf Litter Type Using Decomposition Models in Northern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria. Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosytems, 27(125):1-16
Asigbaase, M., Maeda, E. E., de Bleeker, A., Amoakoh, E. O., de Longh, H., van Langevelde, F., and Heiskanen, J. (2021). Temporal changes in litterfall and nutrient return in a West African tropical forest–savanna ecotone. Ecological Processes, 10.1, 1–14.
Berg, B. and McClaugherty, C. (2020). Plant litter: Decomposition, humus formation, carbon sequestration (4th ed.). Springer International Publishing.
Bremner, J. M. (1965). Total nitrogen. In C. A. Black (Ed.), Methods of soil analysis: Part II—Chemical and microbiological properties (pp. 1149–1178). American Society of Agronomy.
Cotrufo, M. F., Ranalli, M. G., Haddix, M. L., Six, J. and Lugato, E. (2023). Soil carbon storage informed by particulate and mineral-associated organic matter. Nature Geoscience, 16.5, 401–409.
Giweta, M. (2020). Role of litter production and its decomposition in tropical forest ecosystems. Journal of Ecology and Environment, 44, 1–14.
Kumar, A., Malik, M. S., Chattopadhyay, S., Oraon, B. C., Ahmad, E. and Ahmad, F. (2022). Litterfall production, litter decomposition and nutrient release pattern in Gmelina arborea (Gamhar) based agroforestry system in Ranchi, Jharkhand. International Journal on Agricultural Sciences, 13.2, 116–120. https://doi.org/10.53390/ijas.v13i2.10
Lehmann, J. and Kleber, M. (2015). The contentious nature of soil organic matter. Nature, 528.7580, 60–68. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature16069
Manzoni, S., Chakrawal, A., Spohn, M. and Lindahl, B. D. (2021). Modeling microbial adaptations to nutrient limitation during litter decomposition. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 4, 686945. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2021.686945
Murphy, J. and Riley, J. P. (1962). A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Analytica Chimica Acta, 27, 31–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-2670(00)88444-5
Nurudeen, T.A, Abiola, J.K., Salami, K.D., Erinle, W.A. and Olaniyi, W.A (2014). Regression model of tree volume prediction in stands of Tectona grandis (Linn) at Federal College of Forestry, Jericho, Ibadan, Oyo state Nigeria. Science Journal of Agricultural Research and Management, 2014 ISSN: 2276-8572
Olajuyigbe, S. O. and Adebo, O. A. (2022). Determination of leaf litter input, quality and decomposition rates in young Nauclea diderrichii and Terminalia superba plantations in Nigeria. Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife & Environment, 14.2,74–85. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jrfwe/article/download/228537/215786
Olson, J. S. (1963). Energy storage and the balance of producers and decomposers in ecological systems. Ecology, 44.2, 322–331. https://doi.org/10.2307/1932179
Onojah, A., Isah, A. and Oke, D. (2022). Litter production and decomposition in Gmelina arborea and Tectona grandis plantations in Kogi State, Nigeria. Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, 14.1, 1–12.
Pasha, M. K., Khan, M. A. S. A., Shukor, N. A. and Sarker, S. K. (2020). Leaf litter decomposition and nutrient mineralization of five native tree species in a mangrove forest of Malaysia. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 18.4, 5849-5866. http://dx.doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1804_58495866
Paudel, E., Dossa, G. G. O., de Blécourt, M. and Harrison, R. D. (2021). Litterfall and nutrient return in tropical forest plantations of Xishuangbanna, Southwest China: Implications for nutrient cycling. Global Ecology and Conservation, 28,e01668. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01668
Prescott, C. E. (2019). How do we reconcile the plethora of litter decomposition hypotheses? Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 138, 107571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2019.107571
Rahman, M. M. and Kabir, M. E. 2021. Elemental cycling and nutrient dynamics in Shorea robusta forests of Bangladesh. Tropical Ecology, 62.2, 234–245. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-020-00112-3
Sena, P. H. A., de Oliveira, F. L., Soares, T. L. and de Paula, A. (2022). Litter production, decomposition, and nutrient release in a seasonal semideciduous forest fragment. Floresta e Ambiente, 29.1) e20210063. https://doi.org/10.1590/2179-8087-FLORAM-2021-0063
Salami, K.D., Agbo-Adediran, O.A and Odewale, M.A (2020): Growth assessment of Nauclea diderrichii De Wild and Thur Merrill Plantation in Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria. TUW Trends in Science and Technology Journal 5.1, 43-47
Seibold, S., Rammer, W., Hothorn, T., Seidl, R., Ulyshen, M. D., Lorz, J., Cadotte, M. W., Lindenmayer, D. B., Adhikari, Y. P., Aragón, R., Bae, S., Baldrian, P., Barimani Varandi, H., Barlow, J., Bässler, C., Beauchêne, J., Berenguer, E., Bergamin, R. S. and Müller, J. (2021). The contribution of insects to global forest deadwood decomposition. Nature, 597.7874, 77–81. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03740-8
Sharga, P., Upadhyaya, S., & Sharma, H. (2020). Litter decomposition and nutrients release patterns under Gmelina arborea based agroforestry system in Jabalpur region of Madhya Pradesh,India. Agroforestry, 22(1). https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/IJA/article/view/101713
Tonin, A. M., Gonçalves Jr, J. F., Bambi, P., Marinho, R. G. B. and Pérez, J. (2021). Litterfall chemistry is modulated by wet–dry seasonality in tropical riparian forests. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 4, 666116. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2021.666116
Ugwu, J.A. and Ojo, M.O. 2015. Diversity and abundance of insects in the mulberry ecosystem in Ibadan South-Western Nigeria. Research Journal of Forestry, 9.2, 58-64.
Zhang, D., Hui, D., Luo, Y., Zhou, G., (2008). Rates of litter decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems: global patterns and controlling factors. Journal of Plant Ecology, 1:85–93.https://doi.org/10.1093/jpe/rtn002
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Bolanle Olajiire-Ajayi, Oluwasola Abiodun Ogundana
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
