Changes in Leaf Litter Decomposition as affected by Different Land-Use Practices in Nokrek Biosphere Reserve of Northeastern India

The study aims at the analysis of the litter decomposition pattern of the composite leaf litters collected from the different land use practices viz. shifting cultivation and coal mining prevailing in the buffer zone ecosystem of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve of Meghalaya. The results were compared with the data obtained from the core zone which is and undisturbed forest area. Highest annual decay rate (k) of mixed leaf litter decomposition under laboratory condition was observed in undisturbed core zone (1.76), followed in descending order by 10-12-yr. old jhum fallow to 1-yr. old fallow and then by the mine spoil (0.87). The reductions in the rate of leaf litter decomposition were 50 % in the jhum fallow and 51 % in the mine spoils compared to the core zone. Maximum nutrients (N, P and K) mineralization constants from the mixed leaf litter were observed in the core zone (0.71, 0.58 and 2.85 respectively) and minimum in the mine spoil (0.28, 0.21 and 1.46 respectively). In the jhum fallow there was 16 % loss of N release, 16 % loss of P release and 17 % loss of K release compared to the core zone. The corresponding values for the loss in the mine spoil were 26 %, 25 % and 18 %.