Vegetational and edaphic attributes in forest formations in the Cerrado biome

Abstract

The objective of this study was to verify the existence of variations in the distribution of tree and composition species due to the chemical characteristics of the soil in a Semi-deciduous seasonal forest and Cerradão. 40 plots of 400 m² were installed randomly in the area, 25 plots distributed in the semi-deciduous seasonal forest and 15 plots distributed in the cerradão. The trees with circumference at breast height equal to or above 15.7cm (or diameter at breast height DBH ≥ 5cm) were sampled for the species of semi-deciduous seasonal forest. All individuals with a circumference of 0.30 of the soil (CAS) ≥ 5cm were sampled for the species of cerradão. The richness of species presented an amplitude of 84 species for the semi-deciduous seasonal forest and 73 species for the cerradão. The density was 2227 ind.ha-1 for cerradão and 1699 ind.ha-1 for semi-deciduous seasonal forest. Diagrams of species and edaphic variables by means of canonical correlation analysis (CCA) showed that semi-deciduous seasonal forest species correlated with a higher amount of nutrients (K+ and P-), base saturation (V%), saturation by aluminum (M%), cation exchange capacity at pH 7 ((CEC)T), and manganese. The cerradão species correlated with a higher amount of zinc (Zn2+), iron (Fe3+), and pH in H2O.