Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-p2v8j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-07T04:46:37.509Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Decomposition of cacao leaves under natural conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

E. C. Humphries  and
G. Rodrigues
E. C. Humphries
Affiliation:
Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad, British West Indies
G. Rodrigues
Affiliation:
Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad, British West Indies
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

1. A method is described whereby absolute changes in the organic and mineral constituents of cacao leaves during decomposition may be followed.

2. On a basis of their behaviour during decomposition, the components measured fall naturally into three groups. The first group comprises lignin, total protein, resistant protein, dilute-acid protein, concentrated-acid protein and nitrate-nitrogen; these exhibit an absolute increase during decompositión. The second group, represented by hemicelluloses, cellulose and pentosans, all show a downward trend, the decrease being most rapid at the outset. Alcohol- and ether-soluble substances constitute the third group and are characterized by a very rapid decrease during the first few weeks of decomposition.

3. A large amount of material soluble in dilute acid which is neither protein nor reducing sugar is not accounted for; this on a carbon basis constitutes over 50% of the dilute acid hydrolysable fraction. The trend of this fraction is somewhat similar to the carbohydrate fractions. It is pointed out that this fraction should not be neglected in a proximate analysis of decomposing organic matter.

4. Potassium exhibits a very rapid decrease at the onset of decomposition, and the trend is closely parallel to the alcohol- and ether-soluble substances. At times of heavy leaf fall there is consequently a marked manurial effect which may amount to the equivalent of 1 cwt. of sulphate of potash per acre.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 35 , Issue 4 , October 1945 , pp. 247 - 253
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1945

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (1940). Methods of Analysis, 4th ed. p. 361.Google Scholar
Clark, N. A. & Ogg, C. L. (1942). Soil Sci. 53, 27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duthie, D. W. (1937). J. Agric. Sci. 27, 162.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Humphries, E. C. (1943). Ann. Bot. N.S. 7, 45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morgan, M. F. & Lunt, H. A. (1932). J. Amer. Soc. Agron. 24, 655.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pinck, L. A. & Allison, F. E. (1944). Soil Sci. 57, 155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tenney, F. G. & Waksman, S. A. (1929). Soil Sci. 28, 55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waksman, S. A. & Stevens, K. R. (1930). Soil Sci. 30, 97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar