Physiological responses of Melastoma malabathricum at different slope orientations

H., Aimee and O., Normaniza (2014) Physiological responses of Melastoma malabathricum at different slope orientations. Journal of Tropical Plant Physiology, 6. pp. 10-22.

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Abstract

Raindrops impact and the topographic factor have become part of the major factors affecting soils degradation. In addition, understanding the slope orientation is a critical part of knowing the intensity, amount and directions of sunlight essential for plant growth. Hence, this study is aimed to determine the influence of slope orientations in regard to the sunlight directions, morning sun with evening shade slope where the plant received sun in the morning, and evening sun with morning shade slope where the plant did not receive the morning sun, on the physiological performances of Melastoma malabathricum and erosion rate of the slope soils. In six months of observation, the physiological responses of the species studied on morning sun slope were higher in stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rate by 15% and 50.8%, respectively than those on evening sun slope. Whilst the Root Length Density (RLD) of the species studied on morning sun slope recorded the highest value in up to 15cm of soil depth at 77.52 cm m-3. Concomitant to the higher physiological performances, the soil pH and soil carbon content were also higher in the morning sun slope. Interestingly, the erosion rate at morning sun slope was lower by 31% than at the afternoon sun slope, suggesting that the species studied influence the erosion control via increased radiation interception rate. In conclusion, the slope orientation had good effects on the plant growth performance as well as alleviating the soil erosion rate of slope soil.

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