Variations des apports de litière et d'éléments minéraux dans les plantations de limba (Terminalia superba) au Congo

Variations in Litter Production and Nutrient Supply in Plantations of Limba (Terminalia superba) in Congo. A study was carried out in a chronosequence of Terminalia superba (7, 12 and 48 years) and a nearby natural forest. The results show that the peaks of litterfall take place in rainy season contrary to the majority of the forest formations of the humid tropical zone. The return of nutrients to the soil via the leaf litter is higher in plantations than in forest. The calcium released from the leaf litter was up to 175 kg.ha-1.year1. The values obtained indicate a moderate nutrient use efficiency by Terminalia superba