Abstract

Ex situ decomposition of leaf litter of P. [Albizia] falcataria, E. tereticornis and T. grandis collected from 10-, 6- and 25-yr-old plantations, respectively, was studied under field and laboratory conditions for a period of 18 months using the litter bag technique. The amount of Carbon dioxide evolved from the decaying litter and the associated populations of fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes were quantified. A laboratory study was also conducted to determine the amount of organic carbon added to soil during decomposition. The dry weight loss of litter under field and laboratory conditions, respectively, were 94 and 74 percent for A. falcataria, 64 and 60 percent for E. tereticornis and 96 and 92 percent for T. grandis. Decay rate of the three types of litter varied significantly both in the field and in the laboratory. T. grandis litter decomposed rapidly compared with the others and decomposition of E. tereticornis litter was the slowest. Weight loss was positively