Decomposition rate and litterfall dynamics of Tembawang agroforestry area, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Understanding the carbon cycle could be the basis and best way to management practices in traditional agroforestry. In this study, we will estimate the litterfall dynamics and decomposition rate in one of the traditional agroforestry ‘Tembawang’ practiced by local people in Kalimantan. Litterfall dan decomposition monitoring was conducted every two weeks for three months with litterfall traps and litterbags. From the results, we found litterfall production of Tembawang Agroforestry was 91.23-95.03 gr m-2 month-1 or 10.95-11.40 tons ha-1 year-1. The estimated litter decomposition rate in the first of 14 days was 3.92-4.43 gram day-1 after that decomposition rate decreased (on 84th day) at 0.75-0.81 gram day-1. A positive Spearman correlation occurred with the rainfall and temperature variables on the dynamics of litterfall but the value was not significant. Tembawang agroforestry litter production is higher than another agroforestry and the value is approaching the primary tropical rainforest. Litter decomposed more than 50 percent in the initial two weeks and the value is correlated to humidity.