98
M. N. Abubacker and M. Prince
through fungal activity (Blanchette et al. 1994). In both 90 and 180 days of incubation, the hot water soluble content of all treated samples increased. Perhaps the
soluble matter was consumed for energy by the fungi, since lignin and holocellulose
content were less decreased.
3.4 SEM–EDX Elemental Analysis of Mixed Degraded
Samples
The SEM–EDX elemental analysis of degradation of mixed samples were conducted
for all the four forest materials namely leaf, twig and bark mixed samples. For Pinus
radiata the degradation sampling was conducted at initial stage, 90th day and 180th
day of degradation. In Pinus radiata the initial stage the elements available in the
mixed samples of biomass shown C 64.2%, O 34.39%, Mg 0.10%, Al 0.23%, Si
0.18%, P 0.13%, S 0.17%, Cl 0.08%, K 0.40% and Fe 0.11%. On the 90th day of
degradation the available elements were found to be C 7.95%, O 56.05%, Mg 0.57%,
Al 11.35%, Si 12.83%, Cl 0.14%, K 0.67%, Ca 0.24%, Ti 0.44% and Fe 9.76%. On
180th day of degradation the following elements were recorded. C 32.18%, N 2.19%,
O 55.26%, Na 0.15%, Mg 0.25%, Al 5.15%, Si 5.08%, P 0.55%, S 0.26%, Cl 0.23%,
K 0.53%, Ti 0.10%, Mn 0.14% and Fe 2.31% (Fig. 7).
In Pinus radiata, the initial stage the elements available in the mixed samples of
biomass shown C 64.2%, O 34.39%, Mg 0.10%, Al 0.23%, Si 0.18%, P 0.13%,S
0.17%, Cl 0.08%, K 0.40% and Fe 0.11%. On the 90th day of degradation the
available elements were found to be C 7.95%, O 56.05%, Mg 0.57%, Al 11.35%, Si
12.83%, Cl 0.14%, K 0.67%, Ca 0.24%, Ti 0.44% and Fe 9.76%. On 180th day of
degradation the following elements were recorded. C 32.18%, N 2.19%, O 55.26%,
Na 0.15%, Mg 0.25%, Al 5.15%, Si 5.08%, P 0.55%, S 0.26%, Cl 0.23%, K 0.53%,Ti
0.10%, Mn 0.14% and Fe 2.31% (Fig. 7).
4 Conclusion
The rate of degradation of P. radiata needle leaves, twigs and barks varied depending
on the fungal genera inoculated. An increase in incubation time tended reducing both
lignin and holocellulose content. However, the reduction rate was not significant,
therefore more time is needed to degrade lignin rather than other components in
the sample. This report will help to gain the insight of lignin and holocellulose
degradation in the early stage in the natural forest ecosystem. Fungi play a vital role
in plant litter decomposition in forest ecosystem through nutrient cycling and humus
formation in soil because they colonize the lignocellulosic matrix in litter that other
organisms are unable to decompose (Lodge 1985; Hunt et al. 1989). The present
research work with SEM–EDX elemental analysis of degraded mixed samples of
M. N. Abubacker and M. Prince
through fungal activity (Blanchette et al. 1994). In both 90 and 180 days of incubation, the hot water soluble content of all treated samples increased. Perhaps the
soluble matter was consumed for energy by the fungi, since lignin and holocellulose
content were less decreased.
3.4 SEM–EDX Elemental Analysis of Mixed Degraded
Samples
The SEM–EDX elemental analysis of degradation of mixed samples were conducted
for all the four forest materials namely leaf, twig and bark mixed samples. For Pinus
radiata the degradation sampling was conducted at initial stage, 90th day and 180th
day of degradation. In Pinus radiata the initial stage the elements available in the
mixed samples of biomass shown C 64.2%, O 34.39%, Mg 0.10%, Al 0.23%, Si
0.18%, P 0.13%, S 0.17%, Cl 0.08%, K 0.40% and Fe 0.11%. On the 90th day of
degradation the available elements were found to be C 7.95%, O 56.05%, Mg 0.57%,
Al 11.35%, Si 12.83%, Cl 0.14%, K 0.67%, Ca 0.24%, Ti 0.44% and Fe 9.76%. On
180th day of degradation the following elements were recorded. C 32.18%, N 2.19%,
O 55.26%, Na 0.15%, Mg 0.25%, Al 5.15%, Si 5.08%, P 0.55%, S 0.26%, Cl 0.23%,
K 0.53%, Ti 0.10%, Mn 0.14% and Fe 2.31% (Fig. 7).
In Pinus radiata, the initial stage the elements available in the mixed samples of
biomass shown C 64.2%, O 34.39%, Mg 0.10%, Al 0.23%, Si 0.18%, P 0.13%,S
0.17%, Cl 0.08%, K 0.40% and Fe 0.11%. On the 90th day of degradation the
available elements were found to be C 7.95%, O 56.05%, Mg 0.57%, Al 11.35%, Si
12.83%, Cl 0.14%, K 0.67%, Ca 0.24%, Ti 0.44% and Fe 9.76%. On 180th day of
degradation the following elements were recorded. C 32.18%, N 2.19%, O 55.26%,
Na 0.15%, Mg 0.25%, Al 5.15%, Si 5.08%, P 0.55%, S 0.26%, Cl 0.23%, K 0.53%,Ti
0.10%, Mn 0.14% and Fe 2.31% (Fig. 7).
4 Conclusion
The rate of degradation of P. radiata needle leaves, twigs and barks varied depending
on the fungal genera inoculated. An increase in incubation time tended reducing both
lignin and holocellulose content. However, the reduction rate was not significant,
therefore more time is needed to degrade lignin rather than other components in
the sample. This report will help to gain the insight of lignin and holocellulose
degradation in the early stage in the natural forest ecosystem. Fungi play a vital role
in plant litter decomposition in forest ecosystem through nutrient cycling and humus
formation in soil because they colonize the lignocellulosic matrix in litter that other
organisms are unable to decompose (Lodge 1985; Hunt et al. 1989). The present
research work with SEM–EDX elemental analysis of degraded mixed samples of