The results of C mineralization study showed that the carbon fluxes due to crop residues inputs contributed about 7.7 t CO₂ ha^-1 yr^-1 which was mineralized from the soil. However, the mineralization rate of C from the light fraction organic matter which accumulated on the top soil surface was found to be about 20 times higher than that in the soil under the organic layer. The CO₂  fluxes might largely reflect microbial activity from different residue treatments.

Nitrogen mineralization due to the inputs of crop residues could significantly increase the availability  of N to the young palms of which about 421 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 were mineralized from the mineral soil and made available to the palms. In contrast, the N mineralization from the plot without crop residue inputs only contributed about 312 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1  which probably came from decomposed roots of the previous crop. Thus, the fluxes of about 109 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1  was transferred to the soil as a consequence of leaving crop residue about the ground during replanting of the plantation. A large amount of N was in the labile pool of the light fraction organic matter which accumulated on the top soil surface and which, when mineralized, was six to seven times higher than that in the soil under the organic layer.