Does Forest Litterfall Nutrient Stocks Affect the Nutrient Supplying Capacity of Soils?

In order to understand nutrient stocks and dynamics of forest soils, the nutrient supplying capacity of forest soils and control soils were evaluated through greenhouse bioassay. Maize agronomy and nutrient uptake was assessed in 4 consecutive cycles, at 6 weeks/cycle. Results indicated that dry matter yield ranged from 4.25 to 10 g plant^-1. The mean plant height decreased from the 1st to the 3rd cycles. The organic carbon of the soils ranged from 0.61 to 1.80 % in soils from Leucaena leucocephala and Anogeissus leiocarpus, respectively. The soil total N ranged from 0.07 to 0.17 % while the maize N varied from 1.09 - 2.98 % in the 3rd and 1st cycle for soils under Treculia africana and Bambusa vulgaris. Bambusa vulgaris soil was better in nutrients supply considering the quantities of nutrients and their patterns of release to the soil.