A dinâmica de serapilheira é um dos processos fundamentais para o crescimento e manutenção de fragmentos florestais nativos, sendo considerada a principal via da ciclagem de nutrientes em florestas. Dessa forma, estudos sobre produção de serapilheira e conteúdo de nutrientes fornecem subsídios que proporcionam um melhor entendimento da dinâmica dos nutrientes. O objetivo do estudo foi identificar a sazonalidade e as condições meteorológicas que influenciam na quantifidade e no retorno de nutrientes através da serapilheira em um fragmento de Floresta Atlântica. A amostragem de serapilheira foi realizada mensalmente em 12 parcelas permanentes. Cada parcela continha 5 coletores distribuídos sistematicamente. A serapilheira foi classificada, quantificada a massa seca e nutrientes nas frações folhas e galhos + miscelânea. Foi constatado comportamento sazonal com as maiores deposições na estação do inverno. A produção média anual foi de 6,78 Mg ha-1, sendo 64,9% composta por folhas. A entrada média de nutrientes anual foi de 135.1, 115.7, 39.7, 23.5, 17.6 e 4.6 kg ha-1 para Ca, N, K, Mg, S e P respectivamente. A variável meteorológica precipitação apresentou influencia no padrão de deposição. O aumento na eficiência do uso de nutrientes no segundo ano em comparação com o primeiro indica que as plantas estrategicamente podem estar retranslocando quantidades relativas de seus nutrientes sob condições de estresse hídrico.
Palavras-chave: ciclagem dos nutrientes; indicadores ecológicos; sucessão secundária
Litter dynamics is one of the fundamental processes for the growth and maintenance of native forest fragments, being considered the main pathway for nutrient cycling in forests. Studies on litter production and nutrient content therefore provide insights that provide a better understanding of nutrient dynamics. This study identifies the seasonality and meteorological conditions that influence the quantity and return of nutrients through litter in an Atlantic Forest fragment. Litter sampling was carried out monthly in 12 permanent plots. Each plot contained 5 littertraps distributed systematically. The litter was classified, and the dry mass and nutrients in the leaves and branches and miscellaneous fractions was quantified. Seasonal behavior was observed, with the highest depositions in the winter season. The average annual production was 6.78 Mg ha-1, with 64.9% being composed of leaves. The mean annual nutrient intake was 135.1, 115.7, 39.7, 23.5, 17.6 and 4.6 kg ha-1 for Ca, N, K, Mg, S and P, respectively. The meteorological variable precipitation influenced the deposition pattern. The increase in nutrient-use efficiency in the second year compared to the first indicates that plants strategically may be re-translocating relative amounts of their nutrients under water stress conditions.
Keywords: ecosystem functions, nutrient cycling, secondary succession
Litter dynamics is one of the fundamental processes for the growth and maintenance of native forest fragments, being considered the main pathway for nutrient cycling in forests. Studies on litter production and nutrient content therefore provide insights that provide a better understanding of nutrient dynamics. This study identifies the seasonality and meteorological conditions that influence the quantity and return of nutrients through litter in an Atlantic Forest fragment. Litter sampling was carried out monthly in 12 permanent plots. Each plot contained 5 littertraps distributed systematically. The litter was classified, and the dry mass and nutrients in the leaves and branches and miscellaneous fractions was quantified. Seasonal behavior was observed, with the highest depositions in the winter season. The average annual production was 6.78 Mg ha-1, with 64.9% being composed of leaves. The mean annual nutrient intake was 135.1, 115.7, 39.7, 23.5, 17.6 and 4.6 kg ha-1 for Ca, N, K, Mg, S and P, respectively. The meteorological variable precipitation influenced the deposition pattern. The increase in nutrient-use efficiency in the second year compared to the first indicates that plants strategically may be re-translocating relative amounts of their nutrients under water stress conditions.
Keywords: ecosystem functions, nutrient cycling, secondary succession
