Abstrakt: |
Tropical savannas are widespread, rich in biodiversity, with nutrient cycling being central to long-term sustainability of its phytodiversity. Understory precipitation (canopyfall and stemflow) and freefall from 13 rainfall episodes were sampled in isolated, naturally growing tree stands of Azadirachta indica (A. Juss), Daniella oliveri (Rolfe) Hutch. & Dalziel, Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) Benth, Prosopis africana (Guill. & Perr.) and Vitellaria paradoxa (Gaertner) F. Calcium and magnesium were spectrophotometrically analysed, potassium was determined with flame photometry, while nitrate-nitrogen and phosphate-phosphorus were determined via colorimetric titration. Results showed that understory precipitation fluxes (canopyfall and stemflow) were predominantly richer in nutrient return than the freefall, just as the stemflow was the more nutrient-rich understory precipitation. Pearson’s correlation reflected dominant synergistic patterns between canopyfall and stemflow, especially for cationic elemental nutrients. It is indicative that extended in-canopy precipitation residence time, as well as branch and bark tissue leaching-derived base content, are synchronizing factors involved in the nutrient enrichment nature of canopyfall and stemflow, in terrestrial ecosystems. This study points out the agroecological, ecophysiological, and biogeochemical cycling potentials of tropical tree cover, understory precipitation flux, and their rapid nutrient supply to tropical ecosystem soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |