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Trends in Applied Sciences Research

Year: 2014 | Volume: 9 | Issue: 5 | Page No.: 200-218
DOI: 10.17311/tasr.2014.200.218
Dynamics and Fluxes of Nutrient in Throughfall in Rubber Plantation (Hevea brasiliensis willd. Muell-arg) at Ikenne, SW, Nigeria
O.H. Adedeji and A.S. Gbadegesin

Abstract: The study examined the dynamics of throughfall and nutrient fluxes in rubber plantation (Hevea brasiliensis willd. Muell-arg) at Ikenne, SW Nigeria. Throughfall were collected using funnel-type collectors placed under the rubber trees. Data collected were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the student t- test to test for significant differences between the different nutrient fluxes of three rubber age stands (5, 15,40). Net throughfall fluxes were positive for nutrients such as K+, Na+, Mg2+ and Cl¯ while the fluxes negative for NO3¯, NH4+ and SO42¯. Throughfall constituted over 60% of the inputs of Ca2+, Na+ and Cl¯ while most of the K+ and two thirds of the Mg2+ input were attributable to canopy leaching. Average annual nutrient inputs (kg-ha-') via throughfall for the 15 year old stand were 28.39, 4.49, 38.9 and 3.54 kg ha-1 year-1 for Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and Na+, respectively, compared to those of the 40 year old stand which were 22.7, 3.64, 36.3 and 3.17 kg ha-1 year-1 for the same elements respectively. The study revealed that nutrient fluxes in throughfall have a distinct seasonal pattern, with the highest nutrient fluxes during the raining season due to high input fluxes from rainfall. The 15 year old stand appears to be more efficient in nutrient return to the soil than the 5 year old and the 40 year old stands. The implication of these findings is that there is a need to augment soil nutrients through fertilizers application appears to be more crucial in these stands.

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How to cite this article
O.H. Adedeji and A.S. Gbadegesin, 2014. Dynamics and Fluxes of Nutrient in Throughfall in Rubber Plantation (Hevea brasiliensis willd. Muell-arg) at Ikenne, SW, Nigeria. Trends in Applied Sciences Research, 9: 200-218.

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