Litter Production Studies in a Lake Margin Ecosystem

The paper deals with an evaluation of magnitude of periodic change in biomass and productivity of litter in the neglected or abandoned land (Site-I) and winter season cultivated land or crop lands (Site-II) at 'Gujar Tal' lake margin Jaunpur (U.P.). The slight sloping lake-land ecotones of both the sites were distinguished into two zones, i.e. upper and lower. The peak biomass value of litter at Site-I was 79.44 g.m^-2 in the upper zone and 43.12g.m^-2 in the lower zone both in the month of May. The maximum litter accumulation during the fallow period of Site-II was 52.46g.m^-2 in October in the lower zone after recession of flood-water. In contrast, in crop period of Site-II, it was 59.12 g.m-2 and 69.15 g.m-2 at the age of 120 days in upper and lower zones, respectively. The peak productivity value of litter at Site-I was 1.50g.m^-2day^-1 in the upper zone and 0.70 g.m^-2day^-1 in the lower zone both in the month of May. The highest productivity values of litter of plant community in the fallow lands of Site-II were 1.25g.m^-2day^-1 in upper zone in the month of March, and 1.10g.m^-2day^-1 in October in the lower zone. The net productivity of litter during crop period of Site-II was 2.63 and 2.98 g.m^-2day^-1 at the age of 15 days of crop during November in the upper and lower zones. The annual litter production at Site-I was 87.67 g.m^-2yr^-1 in the upper zone followed by 67.79 g.m^-2yr^-1 in the lower zone. Their respective peak annual production at Site-II was 91.12 and 141.24 g.m^-2yr^-1. Analysis of variance for litter biomass at Site-I showed that variation due to zones and months both was significant (p<0.001), while at Site-II it was not significant both due to months and depths.