The objective of the present work was to evaluate the arboreal component effect on the allocation of litter and nutrients in two Agrosilvopastoral Systems, being System 1: maize (Zea mays) + eucalypt (Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla hybrid) + acacia (Acacia mangium) + brachiaria grass (Brachiaria decumbens); System 2: maize + eucalypt + brachiaria grass; that were compared with pasture monoculture, in Viçosa, MG, Brazil. The litter of the arboreal component and of the forage was collected monthly, at 34 months after establishment, in the period from October 2010 to September 2011, and performed the analysis and quantification of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S. Litter deposition from the forage was higher in the pasture monoculture when compared with the associated systems. Nevertheless, the greater deposition of total litter (forage + arboreal component) was observed in the Agrosilvopastoril Systems, proving the positive influence of the arboreal component on the vegetal material increment laid on the soil. The planting line distance of the trees also influenced the litter deposition which was greater at 1 m, compared with the distances of 3 m, which was higher than 6 m. Except for P, the Agrosilvopastoral Systems deposited a greater amount of nutrients from the system with from the litter, notably from the system with acacia that promoted a greater amount of nitrogen. The arboreal component, the leguminosae specie and the planting line distance influenced the litter and nutrient deposition on the soil in the Agrosilvopastoral Systems, indicating the potentiality of these systems to the recovery and maintenance of degraded pastures.
Agroforestry systems; Nutrient cycling; Leguminosae
