Litter and nutrient cycling in coffee agroforestry system in the South Espirito Santo State, Brazil

Authors

  • CUNHA, Glaucio de Mello Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo
  • TINTORI, Jéssica Lopes Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo
  • MOREIRA, Gisele Rodrigues Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo
  • MORAES, Dinorah Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo
  • PIVATTO, Guilherme Luiz Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo

Keywords:

forest fragment, seasonally semideciduous tropical forest, coffee, agroforestry system

Abstract

Nutrient return by litter is very important mechanism of the nutrient cycling in ecosystem. Litter
plays a key role in maintaining soil fertility in agroforestry system. The objective of this study
was quantify litterfall and nutrient return in the forest fragment of the coffee agroforestry system.
Aboveground fine litterfall was estimated by placing four traps in each the four plots. Litter
was collected every from July 2012 to June 2014. Fine litter was analyzed for N, P, K, Ca and
Mg concentrations. Total litterfall was 8,759.67 kg ha-1 year-1. Nutrient return was 147,31, 8,28,
26,50, 80,25 e 49,57 kg ha-1 year-1 for N, P, K, Ca e Mg, respectively. Leaf litterfall corresponded
to 52% N, 46% P, 62% K, 62% Ca e 45% Mg transferred to soil.

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Published

2018-08-20

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2018): Anais do VI Congresso Latino-americano de Agroecologia; X Congresso Brasileiro de Agroecologia; V Seminário de Agroecologia do Distrito Federal e Entorno; 12 a 15 de setembro de 2017, Brasília/DF

Section

CBA - Manejo de Agroecossistemas e Agricultura Orgânica