A dinâmica da serapilheira é um dos processos fundamentais para o crescimento e manutenção dos fragmentos florestais nativos, sendo considerada a principal via de ciclagem de nutrientes nas florestas. Portanto, estudos sobre a serapilheira acumulada e conteúdo de nutrientes subsidiam informações para uma melhor compreensão da dinâmica dos nutrientes. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o estoque de serapilheira e nutrientes em diferentes estações do ano e a taxa instantânea de decomposição em um fragmento de Floresta Atlântica ao longo de dois anos. A amostragem da serapilheira foi realizada em 12 parcelas permanentes com dimensões de 20 m x 50 m. Determinou-se a massa seca da serapilheira e o teor dos nutrientes. O acúmulo médio anual de serapilheira foi de 5.269 kg ha-1. Não houve diferença estatística na quantidade de serapilheira entre as estações do ano. Houve diferença estatística nos teores de N, P, K Ca e Mg entre as diferentes estações do ano. Os estoques de nutrientes foram de 123.3, 92.8, 13.2, 11.8, 9.6 e 3.0 kg ha-1 para Ca, N, Mg, S, K e P, respectivamente. O total de nutrientes na serapilheira acumulada foi de 253,7 kg ha-1 ano-1. O tempo de renovação da serapilheira foi de 281 dias. O tempo para a decomposição de 50% e 95% da mesma foi de 196 e 850 dias, respectivamente. A produção média de serapilheira, o estoque de nutrientes e a decomposição estão de acordo com outros estudos realizados, indicando que o fragmento de Floresta Atlântica sazonal semidecidual apresenta indicadores de ciclagem de nutrientes. Esses resultados encontrados mostram que o ecossistema se encontra sustentável sob ponto de vista da ciclagem e liberação dos nutrientes.
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. Therefore, studies on accumulated litter and nutrient content provide information for a better understanding of nutrient dynamics. The aim of the study was to evaluate leaf litter and nutrient stock in different seasons and the instantaneous rate of decomposition in an Atlantic Forest Fragment over two years. Litter sampling was carried out in 12 permanent plots with dimensions of 20 m x 50 m. Litter dry mass and nutrient concentration were determined. The average annual accumulation of litter was 5269 kg ha-1. There was no statistically significant difference in the amount of litter between seasons. There was a statistically significant difference in the contents of N, P, K Ca and Mg between the different seasons. Nutrient stocks were 123.3, 92.8, 13.2, 11.8, 9.6, 3.0 kg ha-1 year-1 for Ca, N, Mg, S, K and P respectively. The total of nutrients in the accumulated litter was 253.7 kg ha-1 year-1. The litter renewal time was 281 days. The times required for 50% and 95% litter decomposition were 196 and 850 days. The average litter stocks, nutrients and decomposition are in line with other studies, indicating that the Atlantic Forest fragment seasonal semi-deciduous presents indicators of nutrient cycling. These results show that the ecosystem is sustainable from the point of view of cycling and nutrient release.
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. Therefore, studies on accumulated litter and nutrient content provide information for a better understanding of nutrient dynamics. The aim of the study was to evaluate leaf litter and nutrient stock in different seasons and the instantaneous rate of decomposition in an Atlantic Forest Fragment over two years. Litter sampling was carried out in 12 permanent plots with dimensions of 20 m x 50 m. Litter dry mass and nutrient concentration were determined. The average annual accumulation of litter was 5269 kg ha-1. There was no statistically significant difference in the amount of litter between seasons. There was a statistically significant difference in the contents of N, P, K Ca and Mg between the different seasons. Nutrient stocks were 123.3, 92.8, 13.2, 11.8, 9.6, 3.0 kg ha-1 year-1 for Ca, N, Mg, S, K and P respectively. The total of nutrients in the accumulated litter was 253.7 kg ha-1 year-1. The litter renewal time was 281 days. The times required for 50% and 95% litter decomposition were 196 and 850 days. The average litter stocks, nutrients and decomposition are in line with other studies, indicating that the Atlantic Forest fragment seasonal semi-deciduous presents indicators of nutrient cycling. These results show that the ecosystem is sustainable from the point of view of cycling and nutrient release.
Keywords: ecosystem functions; nutrient cycling; secondary succession
