Decomposition of Carbon-14 labeled plant material under tropical conditions

摘要: Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and maize (Zea mays) tissue uniformly labeled with 14C were mixed soil allowed to decompose under field conditions in the open or shade. The incubations done forest zone of Nigeria, using a range contrasting Nigerian soils. Of ryegrass Coriginally added soil, 20% remained after 1 year, falling 14% 2 years. After year retained slightly less C than C, but difference was small overall pattern decomposition similar. There little between rate shade open, even though temperatures considerably greater open. A containing 6% clay (Apomu series) 16% (Egbeda series), general rates different soils similar. For ryegrass, very similar that previously observed for same plant material England, except whole process four times faster Nigeria.