Leaf Litter Decomposition of Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz under Field and Laboratory Microcosm in Northeast India

Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz is one of the most abundant bamboo species of Mizoram, Northeast India contributing about 95% of the total bamboo resources. This study was aimed to assess the rate of leaf litter decomposition of M. baccifera leaves in natural forest (FS) and laboratory microcosm (MC).Atotal of 36 litter bags measuring (15 x 15 cm, 2 mm mesh) containing 10g of air-dried litter material were placed in FS, and 36 litter bags of 10 x 10 cm filled with ∼5 g of litter material were placed in the MC. MC was made from bottom sealed PVC pipe of 12 cm diameter and 16 cm height and filled with layers of 2/3 mineral soil and 1/3 with organic soil from the forest.A total of 6 litter bags were retrieved from FS and MC at monthly intervals for 6 months. Litter decay rate was higher in FS as compared to MC and litter mass remaining at the end of the study was 7% and 13% in FS and MC, respectively. Consequently, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mass remaining were 11.2% and 11.8% in MC and 7.3% and 5.6% in FS. Annual decay constant (k) was 2.2 and 1.4, respectively in FS and MC. Overall, mass loss rate and C and N release from M. baccifera litter was significantly higher in FS compared to MC indicating more complex synergistic effects of abiotic and biotic factors in decomposition at the FS site compared to MC site.