Authors:
Victoria T. Quimpang, Florfe M. Acma, Noe P. Mendez, Diana Rose Y. Jacalan, Aurfeli D. Nietes, Fulgent P. Coritico and Victor B. Amoroso
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Abstract:
This study assessed the litterfall production, analyzed the leaf nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents and computed the litter turnover in the established two-hectare permanent plot of the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site in Mt. Hamiguitan, Davao Oriental, Philippines. Litter samples were collected from the traps installed below the dominant tree species and sorted to components, processed at the laboratory and oven-dried. Data revealed that leaves (88%) contributed the largest fraction of total litter, followed by woody parts (9%), reproductive parts (2%) and miscellaneous parts (1%). Estimated mean annual litter production was 571.84 g ODW m2 which has an estimated mean daily litter production of 1.57 g ODW m2. Nutrient content (% in 1.0g) in leaves was highest in N, followed by K and lowest in P. The highest content of N was observed in Shorea polysperma (1.25%) and lowest in Calophyllum blancoi (0.60%). Amount of K was highest in Palaquium sp. and C. blancoi (0.65%) but lowest in Agathis philippinensis (0.30%) and the highest amount of P was observed in Palaquium sp. (0.10%) and lowest in C. blancoi (0.05%). Litter turnover (g ODW/m2) among the five dominant tree species was highest in C. blancoi (53.25g) and lowest in Palaquium sp. (45.25g). Litter turnover rate (%/day) was faster in Barringtonia racemosa (3.11%) which will decompose within 32.12 days while lowest in C. blancoi (2.52%) which will decompose within 39.66 days. Data revealed that the litterfall production in Mt. Hamiguitan has a correlation coefficient in temperature at 1% level implying that the pattern of production in the forest is affected by said parameter. No correlation for humidity and rainfall against litterfall production was found. Further, this study implies that Mt. Hamiguitan is a younger ecosystem as its leaf component accounts for more than 70% of the total litter production. |
