Litterfall, litter decomposition, soil macrofauna, and nutrient contents in rubber monoculture and rubber-based agroforestry plantations

Uraiwan Tongkaemkaew; J. Sukkul; Narathorn Sumkhan; Phantip Panklang; Alain Brauman; Roslan Ismail

doi:10.24259/fs.v2i2.4431

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2018): NOVEMBER

Issue Published : Nov 26, 2018

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Litterfall, litter decomposition, soil macrofauna, and nutrient contents in rubber monoculture and rubber-based agroforestry plantations

https://doi.org/10.24259/fs.v2i2.4431

Uraiwan Tongkaemkaew

Thaksin University

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9919-1318

J. Sukkul

Faculty of Technology and Community Development, Thaksin University, Phatthalung campus, 93120 Thailand

Narathorn Sumkhan

Faculty of Technology and Community Development, Thaksin University, Phatthalung campus, 93120 Thailand

Phantip Panklang

Faculty of Natural resources, Songklanakarin University, Hatyai Campus, Thailand, 84130

Alain Brauman

Representative of Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD)

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4865-2919

Roslan Ismail

Universiti Putra Malaysia

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0219-5393

Corresponding Author(s) : Uraiwan Tongkaemkaew

[email protected]

Forest and Society, Vol. 2 No. 2 (2018): NOVEMBER
Article Published : Nov 26, 2018

Abstract

This study is a comparison of the litterfall, litter decomposition, soil macrofauna, and nutrient contents in rubber monoculture and rubber-based agroforestry plantations. The three intra-couple differences examined are rubber with pakliang (RP) compared with rubber monoculture (RMP), rubber with timber (RT) compared with rubber monoculture (RMT) and rubber with fruit (RF) compared with rubber monoculture (RMF). Rubber plantation systems were selected at 3 plantations located in nearest pairs at 18 plantations in total. Data collected included litterfall at monthly intervals from October 2016 to April 2017, as well as decomposition conditions for assessment at the end of the experimental trials. Soil samples examined the species and number of macrofaunal and decomposition measurements of mesofauna by using Lamina bait scale to analyze nutrient content. Results showed the litterfall of leaves, twinges, and fruits in rubber monoculture and rubber-based agroforestry plantations were not significant between pair comparisons. This showed leaves fell at a high incidence. However, RT experienced a higher trend in litterfall. Decomposing litterfall was also not significant between pair comparisons, but when compared by associated plant species found that RT trends were more likely to experience higher decomposition rates and the litter index was higher as well. Macrofauna in the topsoil (0-5 cm) and subsoil (5-10 cm) were not significant. The composition of mesofauna was found at high decomposition rates in RF, RP, and RT. Organic matter and nutrient contents were not significant in both soil layers. Our data emphasizes that rubber-based agroforestry plantations help regulate C and nutrient cycles, implying that external input fertilizer management requirements for rubber farmers decreased.

Keywords

litter index mesofauna nutrient content organic matter associated plant species

Tongkaemkaew, U., Sukkul, J., Sumkhan, N., Panklang, P., Brauman, A., & Ismail, R. (2018). Litterfall, litter decomposition, soil macrofauna, and nutrient contents in rubber monoculture and rubber-based agroforestry plantations. Forest and Society, 2(2), 138-149. https://doi.org/10.24259/fs.v2i2.4431

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References

Austin A. T., Luc V., Adelia G. A. & Luis I. P. (2014). There’s no place like home? An exploration of the mechanisms behind plant litter–decomposer affinity in terrestrial ecosystems. New Phytologist. 204: 307–314.
Bradford, M.A., George M. T., Till E., Jones T. H. & John E. N. (2002). Microbiota, fauna, and mesh size interactions in litter decomposition. OIKOS. 99 (2): 317-323.
Brown, G.G., Amarildo P., Norton P.B., Adriana M.A. & Maria E.F.C. (2001). Diversity and functional role of soil macrofauna communities in Brazilian no tillage agroecosystems: A preliminary analysis. Paper based on an oral presentation at the “International Symposium on Managing Biodiversity in Agricultural Ecosystems” Montreal, Canada, 8-10 November, 2001.
Bruyn, L. A. L. (1997). The status of soil macrofauna as indicators of soil health to monitor the sustainability of Australian agricultural soils. Ecological Economics. 23 (2): 167-178.
Chen, C., W. L. Xiaojin & J. J. Wu. (2017). Effects of rubber-based agroforestry systems on soil aggregation and associated soil organic carbon: Implications for land use. Geoderma. 299:13-24.
Cizungua, L., Jeroen S., Dries H., Jean W., Daniel M., Oswald V. C. & Pascal B. (2014). Litterfall and leaf litter decomposition in a Central African tropical mountain forest and eucalyptus plantation. Forest Ecology and Management. 326: 109–116.
Kaspari, M., Milton N. G., Kyle E. H., Mirna S., Joseph S. W. & Joseph B. Y. (2008). Multiple nutrients limit litterfall and decomposition in a tropical forest. Ecology Letters. 11 (1): 35-43.
Ke, X. Karin W. & Juliane F. (2005). Effects of soil mesofauna and farming management on decomposition of clover litter: a microcosm experiment. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 37 (4): 731-738.
ORRAF (Office of Rubber Replanting Aid Fund). (2006). A study of problems and occupational development needs of rubber plantation farmers. Research and Planning Office of the Rubber Aid Fund. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. (In Thai).
Pausch, J., Zhu B., Kuzyakov Y. & Cheng W. (2013). Plant inter-species effects on rhizosphere priming of soil organic matter decomposition. Soil Biology & Biochemistry. 57: 91-93.
Sarah, A. (2016). There’s no place like home an exploration of the mechanisms behind plant litter– decomposer affinity interrestrial ecosystems. https://besplantsoileco.wordpress.com accessed on 28 September 2016.
Stroesser, L., Penot E., Michel I., Tongkaemkaew U. & Chambon B. (2018). Income diversification for rubber farmers through agroforestry practices: How to withstand rubber price volatility in Phatthalung Province, Thailand. Revue internationale des études du développement. 235(3): 115-143.
Villamor, G.B., Quang B. L., Utkur D., Meinevan N. & Paul L.G.V. (2014). Biodiversity in rubber agroforests, carbon emissions, and rural livelihoods: An agent-based model of land-use dynamics in lowland Sumatra. Environmental Modelling & Software. 61: 151-165.
Wang, Q., S. Wang & Y. Huang. (2008). Comparisons of litterfall, litter decomposition and nutrient return in a monoculture Cunninghamia lanceolata and a mixed stand in southern China. Forest Ecology and Management. 255: 1210–1218.
Yang, Y. S., J. F. Guo, G. S. Chen, J. S. Xie, L. P. CaiI & P. Lin. (2004). Litterfall, nutrient return, and leaf-litter decomposition in four plantations compared with a natural forest in subtropical China. Annals of Forest Science. 61(5): 465-476.
Pabsta, H., Kuhnelb A., Kuzyakova Y. (2013). Effect of land-use and elevation on microbial biomass and water extractable carbon in soils of Mt. Kilimanjaro ecosystems. Applied Soil Ecology. 67: 10-9.

References

Austin A. T., Luc V., Adelia G. A. & Luis I. P. (2014). There’s no place like home? An exploration of the mechanisms behind plant litter–decomposer affinity in terrestrial ecosystems. New Phytologist. 204: 307–314.

Bradford, M.A., George M. T., Till E., Jones T. H. & John E. N. (2002). Microbiota, fauna, and mesh size interactions in litter decomposition. OIKOS. 99 (2): 317-323.

Brown, G.G., Amarildo P., Norton P.B., Adriana M.A. & Maria E.F.C. (2001). Diversity and functional role of soil macrofauna communities in Brazilian no tillage agroecosystems: A preliminary analysis. Paper based on an oral presentation at the “International Symposium on Managing Biodiversity in Agricultural Ecosystems” Montreal, Canada, 8-10 November, 2001.

Bruyn, L. A. L. (1997). The status of soil macrofauna as indicators of soil health to monitor the sustainability of Australian agricultural soils. Ecological Economics. 23 (2): 167-178.

Chen, C., W. L. Xiaojin & J. J. Wu. (2017). Effects of rubber-based agroforestry systems on soil aggregation and associated soil organic carbon: Implications for land use. Geoderma. 299:13-24.

Cizungua, L., Jeroen S., Dries H., Jean W., Daniel M., Oswald V. C. & Pascal B. (2014). Litterfall and leaf litter decomposition in a Central African tropical mountain forest and eucalyptus plantation. Forest Ecology and Management. 326: 109–116.

Kaspari, M., Milton N. G., Kyle E. H., Mirna S., Joseph S. W. & Joseph B. Y. (2008). Multiple nutrients limit litterfall and decomposition in a tropical forest. Ecology Letters. 11 (1): 35-43.

Ke, X. Karin W. & Juliane F. (2005). Effects of soil mesofauna and farming management on decomposition of clover litter: a microcosm experiment. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 37 (4): 731-738.

ORRAF (Office of Rubber Replanting Aid Fund). (2006). A study of problems and occupational development needs of rubber plantation farmers. Research and Planning Office of the Rubber Aid Fund. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. (In Thai).

Pausch, J., Zhu B., Kuzyakov Y. & Cheng W. (2013). Plant inter-species effects on rhizosphere priming of soil organic matter decomposition. Soil Biology & Biochemistry. 57: 91-93.

Sarah, A. (2016). There’s no place like home an exploration of the mechanisms behind plant litter– decomposer affinity interrestrial ecosystems. https://besplantsoileco.wordpress.com accessed on 28 September 2016.

Stroesser, L., Penot E., Michel I., Tongkaemkaew U. & Chambon B. (2018). Income diversification for rubber farmers through agroforestry practices: How to withstand rubber price volatility in Phatthalung Province, Thailand. Revue internationale des études du développement. 235(3): 115-143.

Villamor, G.B., Quang B. L., Utkur D., Meinevan N. & Paul L.G.V. (2014). Biodiversity in rubber agroforests, carbon emissions, and rural livelihoods: An agent-based model of land-use dynamics in lowland Sumatra. Environmental Modelling & Software. 61: 151-165.

Wang, Q., S. Wang & Y. Huang. (2008). Comparisons of litterfall, litter decomposition and nutrient return in a monoculture Cunninghamia lanceolata and a mixed stand in southern China. Forest Ecology and Management. 255: 1210–1218.

Yang, Y. S., J. F. Guo, G. S. Chen, J. S. Xie, L. P. CaiI & P. Lin. (2004). Litterfall, nutrient return, and leaf-litter decomposition in four plantations compared with a natural forest in subtropical China. Annals of Forest Science. 61(5): 465-476.

Pabsta, H., Kuhnelb A., Kuzyakova Y. (2013). Effect of land-use and elevation on microbial biomass and water extractable carbon in soils of Mt. Kilimanjaro ecosystems. Applied Soil Ecology. 67: 10-9.

Author Biographies

Uraiwan Tongkaemkaew, Thaksin University

Dr Uraiwan Tongkaemkaew is a professor and researcher at Thaksin University (TSU) in Phatthalung, Southern Thailand. She has been working on a local farming system for more than 10 years.Scopus Author ID: 57195252236

Alain Brauman, Representative of Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD)

Scopus Author ID: 55947810200

Roslan Ismail, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Department of Land Management, Serdang, MalaysiaScopus Author ID: 56278571900