CHEMISTRY OF LEAF LINER OF SOME AGRO-FORESTRY SPECIES IN SRI LANKA

Abstract

Dl'l'llillpmilion or k:l! litter ix a major process in the nutrient dyn.nnicx of agroccosystcm»,which is intricnlly gOVL'lllcd hv the liner chemistry, The chemistry of leaf litter dctcrrnincshOlh the umc course of decomposition and the nutrient rcIC:1SCpaucrn. There arc many:I,~rIllorc'strv Spl'l'leS in Sri 1.:1111-::1h.ili information nvailahk- Oil their liner chcmixirv ISxc.uuv. Such information provcx useful ill idelltifying :1J'[1ropri:ltl' agrofon'stry spccie,s Iordnl'lopillg xuxtainahlr agrol'U)systl'IllS, Therefore studies were carried out to dcrcrm incIhe l'lllll'l'lltr:I1iolls Ill' nutricius II.; N. P. K, Ca and Mg ), ligllill .md ccllulnxr or nine:1~J()fmeslry spl'l'ies ill Sri Lanka. vii .. Acacia auriculijonnis, Acacia mangium. Giriridia,\('I'lllll!, Maccnan;« !1ciIUIU (Kallde J. Altoni« srholaris (Alstonia). Artocurnus il/lcgrU(J/iarluk J, Aruuntpu» altilis (bread truin. 11'/lIIiI/0//(/ ('(11111/10 (Indian almond), and MOI/.~It('r'lindica (m:1I1goI.

Considerable interspecific variation in the above parameters was observed in the leaf litter.Ax rl'g:lI'<ls the per ccntx of ",y, K. C:I and Mg. the values observed varied from 0,39'1 -1(12, OJ)2'i - 0,171. () 16 - 0,9'1. 1.76 - 2,'17 and (I.n - 0.'1 I. respectively. The highestconcentration of N W:IS in (; scpittm while A altilis, A. altilis. A. il/lcgrifiJ/iil and A.sclioars had the highest conccutrarion of P. K. Ca and Mg. respectively. This underlinesIhl' importance of introducinu diverse species (hiological diversity) ill order to cxrablish abalanced Icrtility regime. Milldim and A. ntangiurn had the highest concentration oflignin (22.9l) %) and cellulose 132.76 %). respectively. A salient feature in the leaf litter inM. indica W:IS that. it had the lowest concentration of N (0.39'1 %) and cellulose (14.59 %)and the highest concentration of lignin (n.99%). These data prove useful in identifying asuitable combination of agroforcsuy species for sustainable soil fertility management.