LITTER PRODUCTION AND NUTRIENT RETURN THROUGH LEAF LITTER OF SELECTED CROPLAND AGROFOREST TREE SPECIES IN SOUTHWESTERN BANGLADESH

Cropland agro forestry is an important production system in southwestern Bangladesh. Swietenia macrophylla, Mangifera indica, Zizyphus jujuba, Litchi chinensis, Albizia saman, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Azadirachta indica, Melia azadirachta, Khaya anthotheca, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Acacia auriculiformis and Dalbergia sissoo are the common cropland agro forest tree species of this region and have been selected for this study. This study focused on litter production and estimation of nutrient return through leaf litter of the selected tree species. Five trees of individual species with average Diameter at Breast Height were selected and whole tree covering method was followed for the litter production experiment. Significant (p 0.05) differences in rate of litter production were observed among the studied tree species and M. azadirachta showed the highest rate (553 g/week) followed by S. macrophylla (525 g/week). The nutrients (N, P and K) concentration in leaf litter found to vary significantly (p 0.05) among the species. Highest concentration of nitrogen (13 mg/g) was detected in the leaf litter of M. azadirachta and highest concentration of phosphorus (8.70 mg/g) and potassium (43.61 mg/g) were observed for A. indica. The estimated highest amount of nitrogen (76 mg/kg), phosphorus (58 mg/kg) and K (229 mg/kg) can be returned from leaf litter of K. anthotheca, A. saman and A. indica respectively. Among the studied species, M. azadirachta, A. indica, E. camaldulensis and D. sissoo can be recommended as timber species; and M. indica and Z. jujuba can be recommended as fruit tree species for the cropland agro forest in the southwestern Bangladesh.