Assessment of detritus decaying/mineralization base on weight in terrestrial farmland of Nigerian Army University Biu, Borno State

Abstract

Detritus/dead organic matter decaying and recycling in ecosystem requires wildspecies called detritivore. This research focuses on detritivores activities in different soil types in heavily cultivated farmland. Four soil samples were used. Detritus size was weighed and re- weighed after three months of experiment. One-way ANOVA and Fischer’s Least Significant Difference (LSD) were employed to determine the rate of activities of detritivores in all the sixteen pots used for the experiment. 15N Isotope pool dilution techniques was employed to determine mineralization rate in the soil. Loamy soil has highest detritivore activities and nutrification, whereas clay has the least. Soil types have significant effects on detritus breakdown and mineralization. Fischer’s LSD follow-up test (0.05) was 1.1 indicating variation in the rate of decaying of each soil types. Detritivores composition observed and recorded during this study were eighty percent of arthropods and twenty percent other animals. Also noted are heavy farming activities constitutes limiting factors to detritivores abundance and affecting rate of decaying and nutrients release in the study. Wildspecies (detritivores) are naturally responsible for releasing stored-up nutrients in detritus through decaying process and this unique role occurs in every ecosystems.