Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-06T08:12:21.491Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Litterfall, nutrient-fall and production in an Acacia albida woodland in Zimbabwe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Kevin M. Dunham
Affiliation:
Mana Pools National Park, Private Bag 2061, Karoi, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Litterfall was recorded for one year in Acacia albida woodland in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe. Leaves fell throughout the year, but leaf-fall rate peaked in the wet season. Litterfall was 1.5 t ha−1 year−1, comprising 50% leaves, 20% fruits, 17% ‘fine’ material (mainly frass), 4% flowers and 9% wood and bark. Net above ground production by A. albida trees was 1.7 t ha−1 year−1, including leaf production of 1.0 t ha−1 year−1, twig production of 0.3 t ha-1 year−1 and fruit production of 0.3 t ha−1 year−1. Insects consumed about 26% of leaf production. Net above ground herbaceous production was estimated from rainfall data using regression equations: it was 6.8 t ha−1 year−1 for annual grasses and 2.8 t ha−1 year−1 for forbs. Net above ground primary production in A. albida woodland was 11.3 t ha−1 year−1. The seasonal variations in the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium concentrations of different A. albida litter components were recorded. The estimated falls of N, P, K, Ca and Mg were 31.1, 2.1, 9.8, 15.0 and 3.4 kg ha−1 year−1 respectively.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

LITERATURE CITED

Bennett, J. G., Anderson, I. & Brinn, P. J. 1985. The soils of Mana Pools National Park. Soils Report A517. Chemistry and Soil Research Institute, Zimbabwe. 58 pp.Google Scholar
Charreau, C. & Vidal, P. 1965. Influence de I'Acacia albida Del sur le sol, nutrition minérale et rendements des mils Pennisetum au Sénégal. L'agronomie tropicale 20:600626.Google Scholar
Ernst, W. 1975. Variation in the mineral contents of leaves of trees in miombo woodland in south central Africa. Journal of Ecology 63:801807.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Felker, P. 1978. State of the art: Acacia albida as a complementary permanent intercrop with annual crops. University of California, Riverside, California. 133 pp.Google Scholar
Guy, P. R. 1981a. Changes in the biomass and productivity of woodlands in the Sengwa Wildlife Research Area, Zimbabwe. Journal of Applied Ecology 18:507519.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guy, P. R. 1981b. The estimation of the aboveground biomass of the trees and shrubs in the Sengwa Wildlife Research Area, Zimbabwe. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 11:135142.Google Scholar
Jung, G. 1969. Cycles biogéochimiques dans un écosystème de region tropicale seche Acacia albida (Del.) sol ferrugineux tropical peu lessivé (DIOR). Oecologia Plantarum 4:195210.Google Scholar
Kirmse, R. D. & Norton, B. E. 1984. The potential of Acacia albida for desertification control and increased productivity in Chad. Biological Conservation 29:121141.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Proctor, J. 1984. Tropical forest litterfall II: the data set. Pp. 83113 in Chadwick, A. C. & Sutton, S. L. (eds). Tropical rain forest ecology and management, supplementary volume. Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society.Google Scholar
Scholtz, C. H. 1982. Trophic ecology of Lepidoptera larvae associated with woody vegetation in a Savanna ecosystem. South African National Scientific Programmes Report No. 55, CSIR, Pretoria.Google Scholar
Tolsma, D. J., Ernst, W. H. O., Verweij, R. A. & Vooijs, R. 1987. Seasonal variation of nutrient concentrations in a semi-arid savanna ecosystem in Botswana. Journal of Ecology 75:755770.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vitousek, P. 1982. Nutrient cycling and nutrient use efficiency. American Naturalist 119:553572.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vitousek, P. 1984. Litterfall, nutrient cycling and nutrient limitation in tropical forests. Ecology 65:285298.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Wyk, P. 1972. Trees of the Kruger National Park. Purnell, Cape Town.Google Scholar
Wickens, G. E. 1969. A study of Acacia albida Del. (Mimosoideae). Kew Bulletin 23:181202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar