International Journal of Biology and Biological Sciences Vol. 5(2), pp. 009-016, May 2019 ISSN 2327-3062 ©2019 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Litter Dynamics (Production and Composition) in Vitex doniana, Terminalia avicennioides, Sarcocephallus latifolius and Parinarri curatellifolius in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

T. Okoh¹; E.A. Edu²

¹Department of Botany, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigeria.

²Department of Plant and Ecological Studies, University of Calabar, Nigeria.

Accepted 5 May, 2019

Abstract

Litter fall rate, composition and accumulation in Vitex doniana, Terminalia avicennioides, Sarcocephallus latifolius and Parinarri curatellifolius were investigated at the Agan forest, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria (November, 2015 to October, 2016).  Litter fall rate and accumulation on the floor were measured using litter traps and quadrats while carbon content in litter was determined as 50% of biomass. Litter fall and composition varies significantly (p<0.01) with species and months, mean total litter fall was 68.04 (g m^-2) with leaf litter contributing the most (44.39%), while V. doniana (101.19±30.98 g m^-2) and T. avicennioides, (30.31±6.84 g m^-2) have the highest and lowest amounts of total litter. There was seasonality in litter production between December (102.60 g m^-2) and July (177.53g m^-2). Mean total litter biomass was 91.35(g m^-2) with leaf contributing about 37.03(g m^-2). V. doniana (184.48 g m^-2) and T. avicennioides (39.20 g m^-2). Litter fall correlates positively with plant height (r =-0.274, R²= 0.075, p=0.0243) and crown diameter (r =-0.517; R²=0.0267, p=0.020). litter turnover rate ranged between P. curatellifolius (1.01) and V. doniana (0.55), while residence time was between V. doniana (1.82) and P. curatellifolius (0.99).  Carbon sequestered in plant litter (tones/ m-² y^-1) varied significantly (p˂0.01) among species, with the highest and lowest values in V. doniana (0.186, 0.339) and T. avicennioides (0.055, 0.072) for litter fall and litter biomass respectively. 

Key words:  Litter production, litter trap, turnover rate, residence time, litter biomass, Vitex doniana, Terminalia avicennioides, Sarcocephallus latifolius and Parinarri curatellifolius