Leaf litter decomposition and carbon release patterns in five homegarden trees species of Kumaun Himalaya, India

Leaf litter decomposition and carbon release patterns in five homegarden tree species of Kumaun Himalaya viz. Ficus palmata Forssk., Ficus auriculata Lour., Ficus hispida L.f., Grewia optiva L. and Celtis australis L. were investigated. The study was carried out for 210 days by using the litter bag technique. In the current investigation, the duration needed for desertion of the original biomass of diverse leaf litter varied from 150 to 210 days and specifies a varying pattern of decomposition and carbon release among the species. Grewia optiva took the longest time to decompose (210 days), while Ficus hispida decomposed more quickly than the rest of the species (150 days). The relative decomposition rate (RDR) was reported to be highest in Ficus hispida (0.009–0.02 g−1d−1) and lowest in Grewia optiva (0.008–0.004 g−1d−1). Carbon (%) in remaining litter was in the order: Ficus auriculata (24.4%) > Ficus hispida (24.3%) > Celtis australis (19.8%) > Ficus palmata (19.7%) > Grewia optiva (19%). The relationship between percentage weight loss and time elapsed showed a significant negative correlation with carbon release pattern in all the species. Releasing nutrients into the soil through the decomposition of homegarden tree residual is a crucial ecological function that also regulates the nutrient recycling in homegarden agroforestry practices.