Effect of disturbance on litter dynamics in moist tropical forest of eastern Nepal

Abstract

Litterfall is an important vector of nutrient and carbon recycling in forest ecosystems. Present study was conducted in moist tropical forest of eastern Nepal to understand the effect of disturbance on litter dynamics. Litterfall was estimated at monthly intervals from one litter trap (1 m × 1 m) at each of the 70 sampling plots while litter mass accumulated at each sampling plot was collected once every season from one 1 m × 1 m plot. The total annual litterfall in undisturbed forest (UF) was 11.8 Mg ha −1 yr −1 which decreased by 54.2% in disturbed forest (DF). Leaves accounted for 69% (UF) to 76% (DF) of total litterfall while non-leaf litter formed the rest. Seasonal pattern exhibited a concentrated litterfall in summer season during March to June when more than 70% litterfall occurred in both stands. Forest floor litter mass also decreased due to forest disturbance. The total input of nutrients to the soil through litterfall in UF was more than double as compared to DF. The nutrient stocks in litter mass were in the order: N > K > P in both stands. Key disturbance activities like lopping, litter removal, tree felling, grazing, fire etc. in the peripheral part of the forest should be strictly prohibited by imposing rules and regulations so that status of biodiversity would be restored.

The effect of different anthropogenic disturbances on litterfall of a dominant pioneer rain forest tree in Gabon

“…In eastern Democratic of the Congo (DRC), Cassart et al () reported that leaves accounted for 63%–66% of total litterfall. Leaf litter comprised 75%–87% of total litterfall in an undisturbed tropical moist forest in eastern Nepal and 81%–90% in a disturbed forest (Gautam & Mandal, ).…”

Leaf-litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics of five selected tropical tree species

“…The process of decomposition is primarily carried out by bacteria and fungi, thus the rate of decomposition entirely depends on microbial activities which in turn, get affected by soil character and climatic condition in an area (Berg and McClaugherty, 2014). Moreover, Gautam and Mandal (2016) have also reported the effect of disturbance on litter dynamics in a moist tropical forest. Litter mass loss or decay is the sum of carbon dioxide release and discharge of compounds that contains both carbon compounds and nutrients (Brady and Weil, 2010).…”