Produção de serrapilheira em áreas de floresta com diferentes históricos de perturbação no Sul da Amazônia

Abstract

The main input source of nutrients in tropical forests occurs through the production and decomposition of litter. The pattern of litter production is affected by global, regional and local factors. Knowledge of the effects of these factors is essential to understand the local production of litter and determine their dynamics in different regions of Amazonia. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of litter production in intact and explored in the Southern Amazon forest. Sampling occurred in five areas located in the state of Mato Grosso. The litter, leaves, twigs, reproductive material and residues production was estimated monthly in each area. The sum of the twelve months resulted in annual litter production for each area. The basal area of vegetation, plant density, canopy cover, soil physico-chemical and exploited basal area were used to evaluate their effects on litter production. The mean of litter production annual in this study was 10.6 Mg.ha-1 .year-1 , being greater than the proposed values for the Amazon rainforest. The effect of logging was not significant on the litter production. Effect of basal area of vegetation and tree density on litter production was observed. Litter production depend on several factors, such as local environmental characteristics, climatic seasonality and interactions between them. Therefore, studies in regions with distinct environmental characteristics, as well as different ways of forest use should be conducted to evaluate the contribution of these factors and predict the impact of climate change and forest use on litter production.