Mangifera indica, Zizyphus jujuba, Litchi chinensis, and Artocarpus heterophyllus are the most common cropland agroforest horticultural tree species of Bangladesh. This study focused on leaf litter decomposition and nutrient (N, P, and K) dynamics during the decomposition process. This experiment was conducted for 180 days by using litter bag technique during dry and wet seasons. Mass loss was the highest (49% and 57%) for A. heterophyllus and the lowest (25%) was found for L. chinensis. The highest initial rates (0.75% and 2.35%/day) of decomposition were observed for Z. jujuba and the lowest (0.50% and 0.79%/day) for L. chinensis. The highest decay constant was observed for A. heterophyllus (2.14 and 2.34) and the lowest (0.88 and 0.94) for L. chinensis. Leaf litter of all the studied species showed a similar pattern (K > N > P) of nutrient release during the decomposition process. Zizyphus jujuba showed comparatively higher return of N, P, and K than others. However, a significant ( ) higher amount of mass loss, rate of decomposition, decay constant, and amount of nutrient return from leaf litter were observed during the wet season. 1. Introduction Bangladesh is a developing country where agriculture is the major economic activity. Farmers plant trees in the croplands for the increased production of timber, fodder, fuel wood, fruits, herbal medicines, raw material for small cottage industries, and short-term nontimber products and for environmental and ecological benefits [1–4]. Agroforestry promotes more efficient cycling of nutrients than traditional agriculture systems. It is also more sustainable and better for the environment [5–7]. A wide variety of horticultural tree species are used in different croplands and/or forms of agroforestry in Bangladesh [8–10]. Nutrients are uptaken by plants for their growth and development and a portion of these nutrients is accumulated in plant body [11, 12]. Conversely, a considerable amount of nutrients are returned to the soil through litter fall which has an important role in the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients [13, 14]. Litter improves soil quality through adding the organic matter and nutrients to the soil [15–17]. Leaf litter is the main and fastest source of organic matter and nutrient to the soil compared to other litter types [6, 18, 19]. The nutrients in litter were added to the soil through microbial decomposition and physical leaching of soluble components followed by microbial oxidation of refractory components [18, 20–22]. However, the amount of nutrient addition through litter decomposition
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