Author(s)

J. J. Loumeto

Abstract

Litterfall and nutrient return in tropical rainforest in the Chaillu area (southwest Congo) J.J. Loumeto University of Brazzaville (Marien Ngouabi), Laboratoire de Botanique et ~ c o l o ~ i e , Brazzaville, Congo Abstract The amount of litterfall and nutrient return in two stands of tropical forest were studied over one year in the Chaillu region (southwest Congo). The aim was to investigate the validation of generalizations regarding litterfall and nutrients return in tropical rain forests and to quantify the ecological characteristics of experimental plots. Litter production was measured during 19 months in Malanga plots and 16 months in CCAF plots. The annual input was 6.1 and 10.7 tlha in Malanga stand (primary forest) and CCAF stand (secondary forest) respectively. Leaf litter accounted for at least 59 % of the total amount in both plots. The annual return of elements through the litter of both plots were different : 88.1 - 1 57.8 kgha for nitrogen, 3.7 - 6.2 kglha for phosphorus, 1.7 1

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