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Asian Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2011 | Volume: 4 | Issue: 3 | Page No.: 221-234
DOI: 10.17311/ajbs.2011.221.234
Litterfall Production and Leaf-litter Decomposition at Natural Forest and Cacao Agroforestry in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia
Triadiati , S. Tjitrosemito, E. Guhardja, Sudarsono , I. Qayim and C. Leuschner

Abstract: Litterfall production, litter decomposition and nutrient released were influenced by land use change from natural forest into cacao agroforestry. Cacao agroforestry is a traditional form of agriculture practiced by the people of Central Sulawesi. The study was carried out in the cacao was planted under forest covers (CF1), under planted trees (CF2) and between shade trees (CP). The Natural Forest (NF) was used as the undisturbed ecosystem compared to cacao agroforestry. This research was carried out since March 2005-February 2006. We recorded litterfall production by using litter trap and decomposition of leaf litter by nylon net bag technique. Litterfall production in relation to climate was analyzed by periodic curve. The result showed that NF had the higher annual litterfall (13.67 t/ha/year) than that of cacao agroforestry. Monthly litterfall in NF and cacao agroforestry were influenced by climate. Natural forest had the highest coefficient of decomposition (k = 3.07 in March-June 2005 and 1.85 in September-December 2005) and or the fastest rate of decomposition, whereas cacao agroforestry under CF2 had the lowest one (k = 1.23 in March-June 2005 and 1.14 in September-December 2005). Carbon released was higher in the NF (1.1% in March-June 2005 and 0.5% in September-December 2005) than that of cacao agroforestry. Nitrogen released was higher in the NF than that of cacao agroforestry in the first period (1.1% in March-June 2005).

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How to cite this article
Triadiati , S. Tjitrosemito, E. Guhardja, Sudarsono , I. Qayim and C. Leuschner, 2011. Litterfall Production and Leaf-litter Decomposition at Natural Forest and Cacao Agroforestry in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Asian Journal of Biological Sciences, 4: 221-234.

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