Litter Production and Nutrient Return inBambusa bambosPlantation

From January 1992 to December 1994 we investigated the litter production and nutrient cycling behavior of Bambusa bambos plantations of different ages. The annual litter production was 15.4 t ha▭ 1, 17 t ha▭ 1, and 20.3 t ha▭ 1 in 4-, 5- and 6-year-old plantations. Litter production was significantly higher compared to other plantations of similar age. Litter fall had a bimodel pattern with a principal peak in the winter and another in the late summer in all ages. Of the total annual litter production, leaf-litter accounted for 58% and twig-litter 42%. With regards to nutrients, the highest concentration of N, P, Ca and Mg was in leaf litter. On an annual basis, 120, 10, 101, 60 and 66 kg/ha (4 year), 141, 13, 121, 72 and 79 kg/ha (5 year) and 184, 16, 183, 91 and 96 kg/ha (6 year) of N, P, K, Ca and Mg were returned through litter fall. The maximum amount of all nutrients was returned through leaf-litter and lowest amount through twig-litter.