<i>Gliricidia</i> leaves decomposition: The effect of particle size on microbial respiration

Abstract

Legume leaves used as green manure are a potential alternative to commercial fertilizers for non-legume crop production. Therefore, many researches have been conducted to understand the pattern of legume leaf decomposition and its release of nutrients. A study on Gliricidia leaves decomposition was conducted under laboratory conditions to elucidate the effect of grinding size of Gliricidia leaves (S₁ = ≤ 0.5 mm, S₂ = 4 mm, and S₃ = 9 mm) on microbial respiration and N mineralization after incorporation in to the soil.

The early stages of the incubation were found to be significantly influenced by the particle size of the Gliricidia leaves. Particle size S₂ (4 mm) was reported to exhibit the highest C and NH₄⁺-N mineralization. However, in the case of NO₃⁺-N mineralization, no treatment was found to be significant. It could thus be hypothesized that physical protection of finely ground (< 0.5 mm) Gliricidia leaves was responsible for the relatively low rates of decomposition.

Key Words: Decomposition, mineralization, Gliricidia leaves.

DOI:  10.3329/bjar.v34i3.3957

Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 34(3) : 343-350, September 2009