FINE LTTTERFALL AND ITS NUTRIENTS IN PLANTATIONS OF <em>ACACIA</em> <em>AURICULIFORMIS</em>, <em>EUCALYPTUS</em> <em>TERETICORNIS</em> AND <em>TECTONA</em> <em>GRANDIS</em> IN THE CHIKMAGALUR DISTRICT OF THE WESTERN GHATS, INDIA

Abstract

A study was made of the soils and litterfall in plantations of Acacia auriculiformis, Eucalyptus tereticornis, and Tectona grandis in Karnataka State in southwest India. All the sites had nutrient-rich soils and occurred under a highly seasonal climate with mean annual rainfalls of 7471 (Acacia), 1533 (Eucalyptus) and 2003 mm (Tectona). The Eucalyptus litterfall was measured for two years and for the other two species for three years. The mean total fine litterfall was Acacia 17.5, Eucalyptus 8.6, Tectona 11.4 t ha^-1 y¹. High quantities of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium, particularly in the case of Acacia moved in the litterfall pathway. The litterfall was seasonal with the highest peaks in the wet season in the case of Acacia, and in the dry season for the other two species.