ABSTRACT

Decomposition of litter refers to both the physical and chemical breakdown of litter and the mineralization of nutrients (Boulton and Boon, 1901 ). Decomposition of leaf' litter is a major source of' nutrients in Forest ecosystems. As leaves fall, they are broken down by insects and microbial decomposers. Organically bound nutrients are released as Fiee ions to the soil solution and. consequently, made available For plant uptake. Litter decomposition is, therefore, one other key biochemical processes in Forest ecosystems (Switi et al., 1979). '['he micro — and macro — invertebrate, bacteria and fungal communities depend on these organic resources For food. Through decomposition, the nutrients within the leaves are converted into a form available for uptake by vegetation, thereby exercising a critical control on vegetation productivity (Mitsch and Gosselink, 1993; GroflIrian etal., 1979). The key component of shifting cultivation system is the recycling of nutrients through the addition of above and below ground biomass of the fallow vegetation. Fallow in the tropics have large biotnass accumulation. Such fallows can be natural, enriched or improved (Sanchez, 1999). Natural fallow consists of indigenous secondary vegetation which grows after a cropping period, whereas improved fallows are deliberately planted species which are usually nitrogen fixing (Sanchez, 1999).