Nutrient cycling in different topographic conditions in Semideciduous Forest, Pinheiral - RJ state

Abstract

In forest ecosystems the dynamics of burlap is related to the plant typology and to the climatic conditions of environments, which are influenced by the topographic heterogeneity of the landscape. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether different relief conditions (convex and concave pedoforms) alter the burlap dynamics in a semi-deciduous seasonal forest in the sub-basin of Cachimbal, Pinheiral - RJ state. Two adjacent landforms with relief convex type (convex-divergent) and concave (concave-convergent) were selected, and these ones were divided into mini sites (MS) I, II, and III in the convex landform and IV, V and VI in the concave landform. The stock and the decomposition of the burlap in two seasons (rainy and dry) were rated in different environments. To evaluate the stock, ten samples of litter from each MS were collected using a square template with 25-cm side. To evaluate the burlap decomposition rate, 10 g of leaves were selected, which were placed in litterbags, installed in the field and collected at different time intervals. Litter stock and nutrient contents were influenced by the pedoform type, topographic gradient variation and season, larger stocks were observed in convex pedoform in dry season and higher K⁺ and Mg⁺² contents. in the lower pedoform MS. On the other hand, the carbon contents were influenced only by the season of the year like higher contents in the rainy season. The decomposition of burlap forming material occurs differently depending on the landform, topographic gradient and on the season, where the highest values were observed in the convex landform and in the rainy season.

Keywords: Litter; Decomposition; Forest ecosystems