Nutrients leaching from green leaves of three potential agroforestry tree species

摘要

Abstract Nutrient (NH~(4), PO~(4)and K) leaching from oven dried green leaves of Emblica officinalis Gaerten, Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers. and Moringa oleifera Lam.were investigated in laboratory condition. Oven-dried green leaves were immersed in demineralized distilled water for 8?days. Electrical conductivity (EC), Total dissolved solids (TDS) and nutrients (NH~(4), PO~(4)and K) of leaching water samples were measured at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 144, and 192?h of intervals. All these species showed an increasing trend for EC and TDS in leachate and comparatively higher EC and TDS were observed in E. officinalis, which is followed, by S. grandiflora and M. oleifera . Significantly high amount (P? S. grandiflora and PO~(4)from M. oleifera . But, both S. grandiflora and M. oleifera leached significantly higher (P? E. officinalis . Within the first 0.25?h, 100?% and 82?% of NH~(4)and 68?% and 74?% of K were leached from leaves of S. grandiflora and M. oleifera respectively. S. grandiflora and M. oleifera leached 100?% of PO~(4)within 6?h. The concentrtions of NH~(4), PO~(4)and K in the leachate from E. officinalis, S. grandiflora and M. oleifera were not significantly different (P?>?0.05). The green leaves of S. grandiflora and M.oleifera can be a potential source of NH~(4), PO~(4)and K for a quick nutrient supplement to the agricultural crops in agroforestry practices.