A study on litterfall of replanted tall stilt mangrove (Rhizophora apiculata) and naturall tall stilt mangrove at delta Kelantan

Abstract

This study was conducted in order to compare the litterfall production of replanted and natural Rhizophora apiculata in Delta Kelantan. During our sampling. litter trap were constructed in 5 station contain different years of Rhizophora apiculata stand in order to trap litterfall from April until September 2010. The height and diameter at breast height (DBH) of Rhizophora apiculata stand also measured to observe the age of the tree stand. Then litterfall was collected on the last day in every month and saved into the plastic bag, bring it to the laboratory for further analysis and identification. Litterfall had been divided into 4 main fractions leaves part. productivity. woods and miscellaneous fractions. Result shows that litterfall production increase along with the height and DBH of the tree stand. Overall natural Rhizophora apiculata produce more litterfall with 71 % of the total litterfall compared to the replanted stand. Younger stand produce smaller amount of litterfall and increased when the Rhizophora apiculata stand becomes older and matured. Leaves litter was the most abundance defeat others, show in every month of Rhizophora apiculata stand. while miscellaneous had lowest amount of litterfall produced. Obviously, the patterns of litterfall for all fractions were similar except the miscellaneous.