Authors : A. K. JHA AND A. M. KHURAD
Page Nos : 1-16
Description :
Litter decomposition is a useful biological indicator involving the interaction of vegetation, soil
nutrient availability and soil organisms. The present study conducted under three different sites
i.e. natural forest site, and two afforested sites of MOIL, and WCL to know the effect of different
management plans on soil organic formation and nutrient release. Litter bag experiment was
designed with leaf litter of Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees. and site specific soil mesofauna
for a period of one year. Litter decay and carbon sequestration capacity of soil studied and
periodical changes in organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, Lignin, cellulose etc.,
were observed during the study period. The litter decay constant (klit day-1) was observed in
natural forest, afforested coal mine site and afforested manganese mine site were 0.0012, 0.0012
and 0.0011 respectively. After one year, the leaf litter of Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees.
observed with high N mineralization from 0.97 to 0.6%; 0.9 to 0.63% and 0.87 to 0.57 % in
MOIL, natural forest and WCL respectively. Present work concludes that the following important
process to be considered for increasing soil carbon sequestration: (1) Input rates of organic
matter (type of leaf litter), (2) Migration of soil organisms (type of soil fauna) (3) Rate of litter
decomposition, (4) Rate of nutrient mineralisation, (5) Improvement of physico-chemical
properties of mine restored soils. Hence, the development of productive forests on afforested mine
lands could be converted into long-term sink for atmospheric carbon.
