Scholarly record
SIGNIFICANCE OF SUGARS/ADL RATIO AND LIGNOCELLULOSIC INDEX FOR COVER CROP BIOMASS DECOMPOSITION IN WINTER
Abstract
The aim of the work was to assess relation between the chemical composition of the biomass of cover crops and the intensity of its decomposition during the winter period. Parameters for 13 cover crop species included contents of soluble sugars, cellulose and lignin (ADL), on the basis of which derived indicators were calculated – Sugars/ADL ratio and lignocellulosic index (LCI). Biomass decomposition was assessed according to weight loss after winter exposure. Results showed a significant variability in the chemical composition and decomposition features of individual cover crops. A statistically significant positive relation was recorded between the Sugars/ADL ratio and biomass weight loss (r = 0.332, p < 0.05) while the relation between LCI and decomposition was weak and statistically insignificant (r = 0.279, p > 0.05). A negative correlation between the Sugars/ADL ratio and LCI (r = -0.418) reflects the reverse share of easily degradable and structural biomass components. Cluster analysis (K-means) was used to identify three groups of cover crops corresponding to the low, medium and high level of decomposition. While the relation between Sugars/ADL and decomposition in the group with the low intensity of decomposition was weak, the groups with the medium and high intensity of decomposition exhibited the relation distinctive and statistically significant. These results indicate that Sugars/ADL ratio is a more suitable indicator of biomass degradability than lignocellulosic index and that the significance of easily degradable
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References13
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