Serapilheira em fragmento florestal de caatinga arbustivo-arbórea fechada

Abstract

The study of plant litter including its production over its seasonality, decomposition and nutrient cycling process can provide information that contributes to a better understanding of the vegetation and how the sustainability of forest ecosystems occurs. This study’s purpose was to evaluate the production and accumulation of plant litter during an 18-month period in a forest fragment of the Caatinga biome. The experiment was conducted during an 18-month period, from April 2016 to September 2017, in the Caatinga biome. For this, 100 x 100 cm collecting boxes were installed at 40 cm of soil height to intercept leaves, branches, and reproductive structures. For the accumulated plant litter, a 50 x 50 cm bottomless planter box was used for monthly withdrawals of the material laid on the ground. During the collection period, the total plant litter production was estimated at 4302.15 kg ha-1 and the average accumulation of plant litter on the soil in the study area was approximately 4603.09 kg-1 ha-1 year-1 with the largest deposits at the beginning of the rainy season. The results presented in this study demonstrate great relevance for the development of management activities in the Caatinga biome.