This study aimed to evaluate all the aspects involved in the transfer of litterfall and nutrients into the soil in a 3-year-old Black-wattle stand (Acacia mearnsii De Wild.), in Butiá, RS. For the experiment, 5 plots of 18 m x 24 m were allocated systematically. In these plots, 20 litter collectors of 1 m² were distributed (4 in each plot). For branch collection, 15 splitplots of 3 m x 3 m were delimited on the soil surface. The intercepted material was collected monthly from May/1999 to December/2001. After collection, the material was separated in fractions (leaves, branches, flowers, fruits and feces), oven-dried, weighed, ground and chemically analyzed for concentrations of N, P, K, Ca and Mg. The annual average deposition of litter achieved 5.85 Mg/ha, being 77.0% leaves, 3.7% branches, 2.5% flowers, 2.4% fruits and 14.3% feces. The low deposition of branches. Litterfall was more concentrated in the summer. The largest supply of nutrients to the soil occurred through the fraction leaves. The fractions with higher concentrations of N, P and Mg were the flowers and the fruits, only differing from the leaves and feces in Ca concentration and not differing in relation to K. The magnitude of nutrient transfer to the soil was 106.2 of N> 62.8 of Ca> 41.8 of K> 9.4 of Mg> 3.4 of P, in kg/ha.
Sustainability; forest nutrition; reforestation
