| Peer-Reviewed

Soil Organisms Effect on Leaf Litter Decomposition of Four Selected Plant Species in the Sudano-Guinea Savannahs of Ngaoundere, Cameroon

Received: 25 May 2020     Accepted: 28 June 2020     Published: 30 July 2020
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Few studies were carried out on the influence of soil organisms on the litter decomposition in savannahs of Adamawa, Cameroon. The goal of this study is to determine the total influence of the soil organisms on the litter decomposition of four important socio-economic species of sudano-guinea savannahs of Ngaoundere. These species are Terminalia glaucescens, Ficus sycomorus, Hymenocardia acida and Daniellia oliveri. The experimentation was carried out in situ using the litterbags method in two plots, treated and control with the insecticide naphthalene. 72 litterbags of 10 ± 0,01g each one were incubated in each of the 2 plots during 24 weeks. A taking away of 3 samples of each species was carried out at 2, 4, 6, 10, 16 and 24 weeks. The soil organisms were also sampled at 12 and 24 weeks of incubation. At the end of the experiment, nine taxonomic groups were collected in the two plots during 12th and the 24th week of incubation. The control plot has a total taxonomic composition of fauna (9 groups) and an average of total density (426.25 ind./m2) higher than that treated (8 groups and 362.50 ind./m2). At the end of incubation, the total remaining dry mass is significantly lower in the control plot (9%) than in that treated (42%). By species, this remaining dry mass and the rate of litters decomposition differ significantly between the two plots for all the species, except for that of Terminalia glaucescens. The number and the density of the soil organisms obtained in control plot where higher than that obtained in treated plot. The soil organisms thus influence the litter decomposition in savannahs of Ngaoundere, but this influence is varying according to the species and the time of incubation. These results could contribute to the management of the fertility of the soil in savannahs in general and those of Ngaoundere in particular.

Published in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (Volume 5, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.eeb.20200502.11
Page(s) 13-21
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Soil Organisms, Litter Decomposition, Multiple Uses Species, Savannahs of Ngaoundere, Cameroon

References
[1] Bellefontaine R., Petit S., Pain-Orcet M., Deleporte P. & Bertauld J. G., 2001. Les arbres hors forêts: vers une meilleure prise en compte. Archives de documents de FAO Departements des Forêts. Paris 16 p.
[2] Mapongmetsem P. M., Nkongmeneck B. A., Rongoumi G., Dongock D. & Dongmo B., 2011. Impact des systèmes d’utilisation des terres sur la conservation de Vitellaria paradoxa gaertn. f. (Sapotaceae) dans la région de des savanes soudano-guinéennes. International journal of environnemental studies, 68 (6): 51-72.
[3] Peltier R., Njiti F., Ntoupka M., Manlay R., Henry M. & Morillon V., 2007. Evaluation du stock de carbone et la reproduction en bois d’un parc à karités du Nord-Cameroun, Bois Forêts des tropiques, 294 (4): 16-50.
[4] Mapongmetsem P. M., 2006. Domestication of Vitex madiensis in the Adamaoua highlands of Cameroon: phenology and propagation. AKDENIZ ÜNIVERSITESI ZIRAAT FAKÜLTESI DERGISI. pp. 269-278.
[5] Tchotsoua M., Esoh E., Mohamadou G. & Ngana J. P., 1998. Diagnostic de l’état de l’environnement de Ngaoundéré et contribution pour une approche de gestion. Annales de la Faculté des Arts, Lettres et Sciences Humaines de l’Université de Ngaoundéré, 1: 99-144.
[6] Chapin F. S. I., Zavaleta E. S., Eviner V. T., Naylor R. L., Vitousek P. M., Reynolds H. L., Hooper D. U., Lavorel S., Sala O. E., Hobbie S. E., Mack M. C., & Díaz S., 2000. Consequences of changing biodiversity. Nature, 405: 234-242.
[7] Manlay R., 2000. Dynamique de la matière organique à l’échelle d’un terroir agro-pastoral de la savane ouest-africaine (Sud-Sénégal). Thèse Doctorat ès sciences de l’environnement. Ecole Nationale du Génie Rural, des Eaux et Forêts. Université de Montpellier, 246 p.
[8] Megueni C., Awono E. T. & Ndjouenkeu R., 2011. Effet simultané de la dilution et de la combinaison du Rhizobium et des mycorhizes sur la production foliaire et les propriétés physico-chimiques des jeunes feuilles de Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. Journal of Applied Biosciences, 40: 2668-2676.
[9] Singh G., Singh B., Kuppusamy V. & Bala N., 2002. Variations in foliage and soil nutrient composition in Acacia tortilis plantation of different ages in North-West Rajasthan. Indian Forest, 128: 514-521.
[10] Chapin F. S., Matson P. A. & Mooney H. A., 2002. Principles of terrestrial ecosystem ecology. Springer-Verlag, New York Inc. pp. 234-242.
[11] Begon M., Arpin P., Ponge J. F. & Vannier G., 2005. An introduction to the ecological relations between organisms and their environment sat the ecosystem and community levels of organization. Topics include primary production and decomposition, migration and dispersal across lands capes, and food webs. Blackwell Publishers, Oxford UK.
[12] Bossa J. R., Adams J. F., Shannon D. A. & Mullins G. L., 2000. Phosphorus and potassium release pattern from Leucaena leaves in three environment of Haiti. Nutrients Cycling in Agroecosystems, 73: 25-35.
[13] Ibrahima A., Nguetnkam J.-P., Pabame P., Beunon T. & Guidawa G., 2007. Soil Degradation in the Sudano-guinea Savannas of Mbe, Cameroon: Farmers’ Perception, Indicators and Soil Fertility Management Strategies. Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, 3 (6): 907-916.
[14] Coûteaux M. M., Bottner P. & Berg B., 1995. Litter decomposition, climate and litter quality. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 10: 63 ‑ 66.
[15] Scheu S. & Wolters V., 1991. Influence of fragmentation and bioturbation on the decomposition of C14 labeled beech leaf litter. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 23: 1029-1034.
[16] Hoorens B., Coomes D. & Aerts R., 2010. Neigh bour identity hardly affects litter-mixture effects on decomposition rates of New Zealand forest species. Oecologia, 162: 479-489.
[17] Ibrahima A., Nguetnkam J.-P., Hamawa Y., Todou G., Wanyaola B. & Doba R., 2003. Water absorption and leaching dynamics of litters of nine multipurpose species of the Sudano-guinea savannahs of Adamawa, Cameroon. Cam. J. Ac. Sci., 3 (1): 35-45. French.
[18] Anguessin B., Ibrahima A. & Mapongmetsem P. M., 2017. Litter quality and decomposition along climatic gradient in northern Cameroon. International Journal of Applied Research, 3 (10): 32-38.
[19] Ibrahima A., Adda Magouo D., Ibrahima O. & Hassana B., 2017. Synergistic effects of earthworms and soil microorganisms on litter decomposition in Sudano-guinea savannah zone of Ngaoundere Cameroun. International Journal of Agricultural Research, Sustainability, and Food Sufficiency, 4 (1): 133-150.
[20] Ibrahima A, Souhore P. & A Mang A Menick A., 2019. Patterns of leaf litter decomposition as related to litter traits in the Sudano-guinea savannahs of Ngaoundere, Cameroon. Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International, 18 (1): 1-19.
[21] Suchel J. B., 1971. The distribution of rainfall and rainfall patterns in Cameroon. African Research Center, Federal University of Cameroon.
[22] Quarry M., 1989. Sahelian plant communities in Mauritania (Kaédi region), analysis of annual herbaceous cover replenishment. PhD Thesis, University of Paris Sud Orsay, IE. M. V. T. Maisons-Alfort, CENERV. Nouakchott. 238 p. French.
[23] Hengue P., 1994. General report on the environmental problem in the province of Adamawa. Regional consultation on the environment for the province of Adamawa; p 7. French.
[24] Belinga G., 2000. Degradation of cultivated soils in North Cameroon, inventory and identification of endogenous indicators and techniques used by peasants: case of Mafa-Kilda territory, FASA brief, Dschang. 320 p. French.
[25] Brabant P. & Humbel F. X., 1974. "Explanatory note of the pedological map of Poli, No. 51, Map at 1 / 50000th", Yaoundé. French.
[26] Letouzey R., 1968. Phytogeographic study of Cameroon. Paul de Chevalier (ed.), Paris Vth, France. 551p. French.
[27] Yonkeu S., 1993. Vegetation of the pastures of Adamawa (Cameroon): ecology and pastoral potential. PhD thesis, University of Rennes I, France. 207 p. French.
[28] Massai Tchima J., Ibrahima A., Ngakou A., Babe Ndara G., Maigari P., Mamadou Laminou M. A., 2019. Woody species indicator of soil fertility and their socio-economic value in the sudano-guinea savannahs of Ngaoundere, Adamawa Cameroon. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 4 (6): 216-223.
[29] Bocock K. & Gilbert O., 1957. The disappearence of leaf litter under different woodland conditions. Plant and Soil, 9: 179-185.
[30] Swift M. J., Heal O. W. & Anderson J. M., 1979. Decomposition in terrestral ecosystems. Blackwell scientific publication. Studies in ecology (5). Oxford London. 372 p.
[31] Ibrahima A., 1995. Experimental and spectroscopic approaches to the decomposition of Mediterranean litter. Ph. D. from the University of Montpellier II, Montpellier, France; 185p. French.
[32] Sundarapandian S. M. & Swamy P. S., 1999. Litter production and leaf litter decomposition of selected tree species in tropical forest sat Kodoyar in the Western Ghats, India. Forest Ecology and Management, 123: 231-244.
[33] Anderson J. M. & Ingram J. S. I., 1993. Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility: a handbook of methods, 2a ed. Anderson, and Ingram, eds. CAB International, Wallingford, 249 p.
[34] Seastedt T. R., 1984. The role of micro arthropods in decomposition and mineralization Processes. Annual Review of Entomology, 29: 2 ‑ 46.
[35] Gillon D., Joffre R. & Ibrahima A., 1994. Initial properties and decay rate: a microcosm experiment on Mediterranean species. Canadian Journal of Botany, 72: 946-954.
[36] Bockheim J. G., Jepsem E. A. & Heisey D. M., 1991. Nutrient dynamics in decomposing leaf litter of four tree species on a sandy soil in North western Wisconsin. Canadian Journal of Forestry Research, 21: 803-812.
[37] Sokal J. R. & Rohlf R. R., 1981. Biometry. Ed Freeman, H. W. and Co, Sans Francisco, p 520.
[38] Lavelle, P. (1997). Faunal activities and soil processes: adaptive strategies that determine ecosystem function. Adv. Ecol. Res., 27: 93-132.
[39] Chotte, J.-L., Duponnois, R., Cadet, P., Adiko, C., 2001. La Jachère en Afrique tropicale. De la jachère naturelle à la jachère améliorée. Le point des connaissances, John Libbey, Paris, pp. 85-123.
[40] Mando A., Brussaard L., Stroosnijder L. & Brown G. G., 2002. Managing termites and organic resources to improve soil productivity in the Sahel. In: Program, Abstract and Related documents of the International Technical Workshop on Biological Management of Soil Ecosystems for Sustainable Agriculture, Brown GG, Hungria M, Olivera LJ, Bunning S, Montanez A, (eds.), Série Documentos Londrina, Bazil: 182: 191-203.
[41] Ouédraogo E., Mando A. & Brussaard L., 2008. Termites and mulch work together to rehabilitate soils, Low external Input and Sustainable Agriculture (LEISA) Magazine, 24 (2): 28.
[42] Dosso K., Konaté S., Aïdara D. & Linsenmair K. E., 2010. Termite diversity and abundance across fireinduced habitat variability in a tropical moist savanna (Lamto, central Côte d’Ivoire). Journal of Tropical Ecology, 26: 323-34.
[43] Dosso K., Yéo K., Konaté S. & Linsenmair K. E., 2012. Importance of protected areas for biodiversity conservation in central Côte d’Ivoire: Comparison of termite assemblages between two neighbouring areas under differing levels of disturbance. Journal of Insect Science, 12: 131.
[44] Dosso K., Deligne J., Yéo K., Konaté S. & Linsenmair K. E., 2013. Changes in the termite assemblage across a sequence of land-use systems in the rural area around Lamto Reserve in Central Côte d’Ivoire. Journal of Insect Conservation, 17: 1047-1057.
[45] Maha Ali AL., Ishtiag HA., 2015. Decomposition of Jatropha curcas Linn. Litter (A case study at El Rawakeeb Research Farm, Sudan). Journal of Biodiversity and Ecological Sciences, 5 (3): 205-213.
[46] Li H., Xu L., Wu F., Yang W., Ni X. & He J., 2016. Forest gaps alter the total phenol dynamics in decomposing litter in an alpine fir forest. PLoS One 11, e0148426.
[47] Gonzalez G. & Seastedt T. R., 2001. Soil fauna and plant litter decomposition in tropical and subalpine forests. Ecology, 82: 955-964.
[48] Bernhard-Reversat, 1972. Décomposition de la litière de feuilles en forêt ombrophile de basse COTE-D’IVOIRE, Centre ORSTOM d’Andiopodoumé, Côte d’ivoire. Oecol. plant., 7 (3): 279-300.
[49] Witkamp M. & Crossley D. A. Jr., 1966. The role of arthropods and microflora in breakdown of white oak litter. Pedobiologia, 6: 293-303.
[50] Diallo M. D., Guissé A. & Coundoul M., 2006. Minéralisation de l’azote in situ à partir de la décomposition de quelques litières d’espèces végétales tropicales. Journal de la Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, 4 (2): 18-28.
[51] Ibrahima A., Mapongmetsem P. M., Nguetnkam J. P. & Longmo J., 2000. Décomposition des litières de quelques essences agroforestières en zone des savanes de l’Adamaoua, Cameroun. Biosciences proceedings, 7: 387-395.
[52] Massai T. J., Babe N. G., Maigari P., Djouka N. P., Ibrahima A., 2020. Effect of litter mixture on litter decomposition and nutrient release of three agroforestry species in Sudano-Guinean savannah of Ngadoundere, Adamawa Cameroon Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management, 7 (2): 2065-2073.
[53] Gallardo A. & Merino J., 1993. Leaf decomposition in two Mediterranean ecosystems of Southwest Spain: influence of substrate quality. Ecology, 74: 152-161.
[54] Zimmer M. & Topp W., 2002. The role of coprophagy in nutrient release from feces of phytophagous insects. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 34: 1093-1099.
[55] García-Palacios P., Maestre F. T., Kattge J., Wall D. H., 2013. Climate and litter quality differently modulate the effects of soil fauna on litter decomposition across biomes. Ecol. Lett., 16: 1045-1053.
[56] Mapongmetsem P. M., Loura B. B., Nkongmeneck B. A., Ngassoum M. B., Gubbuk H., Baye N. C. & Longmo J., 2005. Litter fall, decomposition and nutrients Release in Vitex doniana sweet and vitex madiensis Oliv. In the Sudano-Guinea savannah. Akdeniz universite sizira atfakultesidergisi. pp. 63-75.
[57] Ibrahima A., Schmidt P., Ketner P. & Mohrem G. T. M., 2002. Phytomasse et cycle des nutriments dans la forêt tropicale dense humide du Sud Cameroun. Tropenbos Cameroon. Documents 9. Kribi, Cameroon. 16p.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Babe Ndara Grégoire, Massai Tchima Jacob, Maigari Pale, Ibrahima Adamou. (2020). Soil Organisms Effect on Leaf Litter Decomposition of Four Selected Plant Species in the Sudano-Guinea Savannahs of Ngaoundere, Cameroon. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 5(2), 13-21. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20200502.11

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Babe Ndara Grégoire; Massai Tchima Jacob; Maigari Pale; Ibrahima Adamou. Soil Organisms Effect on Leaf Litter Decomposition of Four Selected Plant Species in the Sudano-Guinea Savannahs of Ngaoundere, Cameroon. Ecol. Evol. Biol. 2020, 5(2), 13-21. doi: 10.11648/j.eeb.20200502.11

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Babe Ndara Grégoire, Massai Tchima Jacob, Maigari Pale, Ibrahima Adamou. Soil Organisms Effect on Leaf Litter Decomposition of Four Selected Plant Species in the Sudano-Guinea Savannahs of Ngaoundere, Cameroon. Ecol Evol Biol. 2020;5(2):13-21. doi: 10.11648/j.eeb.20200502.11

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.eeb.20200502.11,
      author = {Babe Ndara Grégoire and Massai Tchima Jacob and Maigari Pale and Ibrahima Adamou},
      title = {Soil Organisms Effect on Leaf Litter Decomposition of Four Selected Plant Species in the Sudano-Guinea Savannahs of Ngaoundere, Cameroon},
      journal = {Ecology and Evolutionary Biology},
      volume = {5},
      number = {2},
      pages = {13-21},
      doi = {10.11648/j.eeb.20200502.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20200502.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.eeb.20200502.11},
      abstract = {Few studies were carried out on the influence of soil organisms on the litter decomposition in savannahs of Adamawa, Cameroon. The goal of this study is to determine the total influence of the soil organisms on the litter decomposition of four important socio-economic species of sudano-guinea savannahs of Ngaoundere. These species are Terminalia glaucescens, Ficus sycomorus, Hymenocardia acida and Daniellia oliveri. The experimentation was carried out in situ using the litterbags method in two plots, treated and control with the insecticide naphthalene. 72 litterbags of 10 ± 0,01g each one were incubated in each of the 2 plots during 24 weeks. A taking away of 3 samples of each species was carried out at 2, 4, 6, 10, 16 and 24 weeks. The soil organisms were also sampled at 12 and 24 weeks of incubation. At the end of the experiment, nine taxonomic groups were collected in the two plots during 12th and the 24th week of incubation. The control plot has a total taxonomic composition of fauna (9 groups) and an average of total density (426.25 ind./m2) higher than that treated (8 groups and 362.50 ind./m2). At the end of incubation, the total remaining dry mass is significantly lower in the control plot (9%) than in that treated (42%). By species, this remaining dry mass and the rate of litters decomposition differ significantly between the two plots for all the species, except for that of Terminalia glaucescens. The number and the density of the soil organisms obtained in control plot where higher than that obtained in treated plot. The soil organisms thus influence the litter decomposition in savannahs of Ngaoundere, but this influence is varying according to the species and the time of incubation. These results could contribute to the management of the fertility of the soil in savannahs in general and those of Ngaoundere in particular.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Soil Organisms Effect on Leaf Litter Decomposition of Four Selected Plant Species in the Sudano-Guinea Savannahs of Ngaoundere, Cameroon
    AU  - Babe Ndara Grégoire
    AU  - Massai Tchima Jacob
    AU  - Maigari Pale
    AU  - Ibrahima Adamou
    Y1  - 2020/07/30
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20200502.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.eeb.20200502.11
    T2  - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
    JF  - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
    JO  - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
    SP  - 13
    EP  - 21
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-3762
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20200502.11
    AB  - Few studies were carried out on the influence of soil organisms on the litter decomposition in savannahs of Adamawa, Cameroon. The goal of this study is to determine the total influence of the soil organisms on the litter decomposition of four important socio-economic species of sudano-guinea savannahs of Ngaoundere. These species are Terminalia glaucescens, Ficus sycomorus, Hymenocardia acida and Daniellia oliveri. The experimentation was carried out in situ using the litterbags method in two plots, treated and control with the insecticide naphthalene. 72 litterbags of 10 ± 0,01g each one were incubated in each of the 2 plots during 24 weeks. A taking away of 3 samples of each species was carried out at 2, 4, 6, 10, 16 and 24 weeks. The soil organisms were also sampled at 12 and 24 weeks of incubation. At the end of the experiment, nine taxonomic groups were collected in the two plots during 12th and the 24th week of incubation. The control plot has a total taxonomic composition of fauna (9 groups) and an average of total density (426.25 ind./m2) higher than that treated (8 groups and 362.50 ind./m2). At the end of incubation, the total remaining dry mass is significantly lower in the control plot (9%) than in that treated (42%). By species, this remaining dry mass and the rate of litters decomposition differ significantly between the two plots for all the species, except for that of Terminalia glaucescens. The number and the density of the soil organisms obtained in control plot where higher than that obtained in treated plot. The soil organisms thus influence the litter decomposition in savannahs of Ngaoundere, but this influence is varying according to the species and the time of incubation. These results could contribute to the management of the fertility of the soil in savannahs in general and those of Ngaoundere in particular.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Department of Biological Sciences, Ngaoundere University, Ngaoundere, Cameroon

  • Department of Biological Sciences, Ngaoundere University, Ngaoundere, Cameroon

  • Department of Biological Sciences, Ngaoundere University, Ngaoundere, Cameroon

  • Department of Biological Sciences, Ngaoundere University, Ngaoundere, Cameroon

  • Sections