Litter decomposition of Acacia auriculiformis Cunn. Ex Benth. and Acacia mangium Willd. under coconut trees on quaternary sandy soils in Ivory Coast

Litter decomposition of Acacia auriculiformis and Acacia mangium on sandy soil under coconut trees was studied in a field trial using the litterbag technique. The study was conducted during 2001 and 2002 in Ivory Coast. Litterbags containing 450 g of dried leaves and 450 g of dried small stems were set up in two coconut plantations of different ages, 3 and 20 years old. Dry matter weight and concentrations of total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and C/N ratio were determined at 90, 180, 270, and 360 days. The decomposition rate constant (k) and the half-life time decomposition of dry matter (T1/2) were calculated. The study showed that A. auriculiformis and A. mangium have the same rate of decomposition on each coconut plantation. The k value varied from −1.592 day−1 to −1.492 day−1. The half-life time decomposition value of dry matter (T1/2) ranged from 283 to 301 days. Nitrogen was released between 0 and 180 days with an N concentration for A. auriculiformis and A. mangium varying from 2.03 to 1.80% and 1.97 to 1.79%, respectively. After 180 days, the litters immobilized N. Phosphorus and Mg were released faster from A. mangium than from A. auriculiformis. A positive correlation was found between the N concentration of each Acacia species and the litter dry weight at 90 and 180 days. Likewise, C/N ratio was positively correlated with litter dry weight at 90 days.