| Nutrient cycling in forest ecosystem |
Nutrient cycling in forest ecosystem……………………………………………..
· Nutrient cycle in forest ecosystem is a dynamic & complex system of geological, chemical & biological eyeling through which the soil organic matter & nutrient supplies are replenished & maintained. Thereby ensuring continued productivity of the site.
Types ……………………..2 types
1. Geochemical nutrient cycling:
· Is an open system concerns the import export relationship of nutrients into & out of the ecosystem.
· It includes nutrients imports from such sources as nitrogen & fertilization; outputs include leaching & erosional losses in drainage water, volatile losses from fire & desertification & removal in harvests.
2. Biological nutrient cycling:
· Is the closed system involves plant-soil exchanges of nutrients.
· Involves the transfer of nutrients between forest floor soil & associated plants & animal communities.
· May also include the internal transfer of nutrients among organs within trees.
· Deals with the translocation of nutrients within standing tree mass are called biochemical cycle & nutrient transfer between soils & trees are called biogeochemical cycle.
Major pathways Nutrient cycling in forest ecosystem………………………….
A. Geo chemical nutrients cycling:
a) Nutrients gains or import or that comes into ecosystem-------From
1. Atmosphere
2. Biological nitrogen fixation, non-symbiotic nitrogen fixation, symbiotic nitrogen fixation.
3. Weathering of parent rock.
4. Fertilizer application.
b) Nutrient losses (outputs) or that goes out of the ecosystem-----
1. Loss through leaching & surface run-off.
2. Loss through harvesting.
3. Volatile losses.
B. Biological nutrient cycle:
a) Nutrient uptake by trees.
b) Accumulation & distribution of nutrients.
c) Nutrients returns.
d) Internal transfer.
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| Prepared by Rasel 23 |
