Factors affecting the decomposition of leaf litters in a mini-forest

Abstract

The fallen leaves, small twigs, seeds, and other woody debris that accumulate on the ground are a natural part of the forests and make up the leaf litter. Leaf litter is an important factor in healthy soil. As it decomposes, it replenishes soil with nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and other inorganic compounds. This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the rate of the leaf litter decomposition process. The study was conducted in the mini forest and observation was conducted from August to October 2017. Data was collected weekly by observing and counting insects, and invertebrates in the leaf litter set-up which was composed of varying decaying leaf colors placed inside a mesh; the setup was separated into three colors: green, orange, and brown color and initially weighed 200 grams for each mesh bag and placed on the forest floor. The weight changes were noted every week during the visit to the field setup. This leaf litter observation concludes that various factors are affecting the process of decomposition of the leaf litter. This includes the presence of invertebrates and decomposers, the age of the leaves used in the setup, temperature, and the disturbances.