ABSTRACT
Five experiments: leaf litter
production, leaf litter decomposition, quantity of precipitation pathways,
nutrient cycling of leaf litter and of precipitation pathways, and maize
production were conducted in 2016 and 2017 in Diospyros crassiflora plantation in the Humid Forest Research
Station, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Okwuta-Ibeku, Umuahia,
Abia State, Nigeria. A randomised complete block design (RCBD) was used to
study the leaf litterfall of Diospyros
crassiflora in the D. crassiflora
plantation. A 2 x 6 and a 2 x 7 factorial experiment each in RCBD were also
conducted in 2016 and 2017 respectively to study the bi-weekly decomposition
rates of D. crassiflora in the
nursery unit of FRIN. A 3 x 9 x
2 factorial experiment in RCBD was also used to
study the quantity of water and nutrient cycling contents of three precipitation
pathways overtime in the D. crassiflora plantation.
A 3 x 3 factorial experiment in RCBD was used to determine the effect of
organic and inorganic fertilizer rates on the growth and yield of Zea mays in a 4 and 5 years old D. crassiflora plantation in 2016 and in
2017, respectively. Result showed that, the dry season months of November-
March had leaf litter production of 11.58 – 7.48 kg ha-1 in 2016 and
22.70 -16.10 kg ha-1 in 2017 which were significantly higher than
the rainy season months of April-October of 1.98 - 6.03 kg ha-1 in
2016 and 4.80 - 13.00 kg ha-1 in 2017. Total leaf litter
decomposition (100%) rates of soil surface-placed and soil-incorporated modes
were obtained at the 12thand 14th weeks after leaf litter
placement in 2016 and 2017 respectively. The results of nutrient contents in
the leaf litters in 2016 and 2017 were statistically similar for both macro and
micro-elements (N, P, K, Ca, Na, Mg, Fe, Org. M., Org. C, pH and Pb). In terms
of the precipitation pathways stemflow and rainfall had significantly the
highest and the least water quantities, respectively. Stemflow pathway in 2016
and 2017 had the highest (p ≤ 0.05) nutrient concentrations of calcium (Ca),
potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), chlorine (Cl), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and
tetraphosphate. Application of inorganic (NPK 15:15:15) and organic (poultry
manure) fertilizer at 0.00kg, 250.00kg, 500.00kg and 0.00t, 2.00t and 4.00t rates in 2016 and 2017 improved and increased
the growth attributes of maize in D.
crassiflora plantation. The results of the various rates of fertilizer (F),
poultry manure (P) and the fertilizers x poultry manure treatment combinations
were not significantly different from each other within the period of study in
terms of maize yield attributes. In conclusion, agriculturists,
environmentalists and foresters are encouraged to adopt D. crassiflora species in
their farming system and plantation establishment because of its values in
mineral nutrients. The leaf litter of D.
crassiflora should be utilized as one
of the main sources of organic manure due to its fast rate of decomposition and
consequently its high mineral contents that could be deposited in the soil.
INIOBONG, B (2023). Leaf Litter Production and Nutrient Cycling Rates, Growth and Yield Parameters of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Diospyros crassiflora (Hiern–FWTA) Plantation in Okwuta-Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria . Repository.mouau.edu.ng: Retrieved Oct 12, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/leaf-litter-production-and-nutrient-cycling-rates-growth-and-yield-parameters-of-maize-zea-mays-l-in-diospyros-crassiflora-hiernfwta-plantation-in-okwuta-ibeku-umuahia-abia-state-nigeria-7-2
BRUNO, INIOBONG. "Leaf Litter Production and Nutrient Cycling Rates, Growth and Yield Parameters of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Diospyros crassiflora (Hiern–FWTA) Plantation in Okwuta-Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria " Repository.mouau.edu.ng. Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 11 May. 2023, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/leaf-litter-production-and-nutrient-cycling-rates-growth-and-yield-parameters-of-maize-zea-mays-l-in-diospyros-crassiflora-hiernfwta-plantation-in-okwuta-ibeku-umuahia-abia-state-nigeria-7-2. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.
BRUNO, INIOBONG. "Leaf Litter Production and Nutrient Cycling Rates, Growth and Yield Parameters of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Diospyros crassiflora (Hiern–FWTA) Plantation in Okwuta-Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria ". Repository.mouau.edu.ng, Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 11 May. 2023. Web. 12 Oct. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/leaf-litter-production-and-nutrient-cycling-rates-growth-and-yield-parameters-of-maize-zea-mays-l-in-diospyros-crassiflora-hiernfwta-plantation-in-okwuta-ibeku-umuahia-abia-state-nigeria-7-2 >.
BRUNO, INIOBONG. "Leaf Litter Production and Nutrient Cycling Rates, Growth and Yield Parameters of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Diospyros crassiflora (Hiern–FWTA) Plantation in Okwuta-Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria " Repository.mouau.edu.ng (2023). Accessed 12 Oct. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/leaf-litter-production-and-nutrient-cycling-rates-growth-and-yield-parameters-of-maize-zea-mays-l-in-diospyros-crassiflora-hiernfwta-plantation-in-okwuta-ibeku-umuahia-abia-state-nigeria-7-2