Growth and Nutrient Dynamics of a Young <I>Pinus caribaea</I> Morelet Plantation on a Denuded Hill Soil of Bangladesh

Abstract

A five year old Pinus caribaea Morelet var. hondurensis plantation on a denuded hill soil of Chittagong, Bangladesh produced trees having average height of 10.97m and dbh of 16.22 cm. Aboveground biomass was 79.9 mt/ha. Annual litterfall amounted to 7.51 mt/ha with 98% in the needles. Returns of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn and Zn in litter were 29.08, 8.76,10.79,45.96,21.91,6.89,1.78 and 1.40 hg/ha/yr respectively. Concentration of these nutrients fluctuated in different time of the year and so did the amount of litterfall. Litterfall was biomass having a peak in April and another in July. Rate of needle litter decomposition differed with seasons. Needle litter placed in litter bags on soil surface of the plantation decomposed to 89 per cent within 360 days and released 94, 86, 85, 98,96,60,78 and 81 per cent of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn and Zn respectively.