Litterfall and seasonal pattern of nutrient accretions of Dactyladenia barteria, a bush fallow species, were studied at Ozala, Nigeria for 52 weeks (26 May 1985 to 24 May 1986). Total litterfall was continuous throughout the year, with a peak from December to May, corresponding to the dry and early rainy season. The dry season (November–March) had 65.5% of the total leaf litterfall. The mean total litterfall of the leaf, flower/fruit and twig litter component was 977.2±6.7 g m−2. Litterfall correlated positively with maximum air temperature but negatively with rainfall. Except for K, there were no significant seasonal variations in the mean concentrations of N, P, Na, Ca, Mg, organic C and C:N ratios in the D. barteria leaf litter. The contributions of each litter part to the total nutrient input at Ozala in order of magnitude were as follows: leaf, flower/fruit, twig litter. The study stresses the great potentials of this species for alley cropping/farming.
Forest Ecology and Management 08/1994; 67(1-3):345-351. DOI:10.1016/0378-1127(94)90029-9