IMPACT OF GENETIC MATERIAL AND TREE AGE ON EUCALYPTUS LITTER DECOMPOSITION AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS
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Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to assess the decomposition of litter and subsequent nutrient release from different eucalypt stand with different clones in the neotropical savanna. Litter mass loss for each clone was assessed through the random distribution of over 1,080 litter bags on the soil surface. Chemical analyses of macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S) and carbon (C) in the remaining litter were performed. An exponential and polynomial model was used to describe the decomposition and macronutrients, respectively. An ANOVA was conducted, and mean comparisons were performed using Tukey’s test (α = 0.05).
Results: At the end of the experiment, the remaining litter mass was 11% for clone GG100 and 15% for clone EAC 1528. The residual concentrations of C, K, and Mg in the litter were associated with mass loss, while N, P, Ca, and S increased up to 720 days. The levels of N, P, and Mg were higher in clone GG100, whereas Ca and S were higher in clone EAC 1528 (p = 0.05).
Conclusion: This study highlights that long-term research on litter decomposition in eucalypt stands contributes to a better understanding of nutrient cycling dynamics. Different eucalyptus stands exhibited distinct nutrient release patterns throughout the litter decomposition process.
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