Dharitri Mahakur and N. Behera
Abstract
Field experiments were carried out to look into the decomposition of leaf litter of Eucalyptus tereticornis. The progressive decline in the litter dry weight exhibited negative exponential relationship with time. The cumulative weight loss of litter was exhibited to be 38-43% at the end of the 7th month of decomposition. With the progress of decomposition, phenolic substances in the litter showed an increasing trend. Release of N, Na and K from the litter after the completion of the 7th month of decomposition was calculated to be 34%, 85% and 98% respectively.