Dinâmica edáfica da serrapilheira em sistemas agroflorestais no Cerrado

Abstract

Litter plays important ecological roles in Cerrado forest ecosystems and an important hydrological role in retaining water and protecting the soil from erosion. Litter production and soil deposition are premises of agroforestry systems (AFS). This work aimed to evaluate the edaphic dynamics of litter in agroforestry systems in the Cerrado. For this, eight study plots were implanted in four SAFs (two in each) during a year to collect data about the forest structure, soils, litter stock and litter decomposition. The average litter stock in the AFSs (23.02 Mg ha-1 year-1) can be considered high and followed a seasonal pattern, with an average of 28.39 Mg ha-1 at the end of the dry and medium seasons. of 17.66 Mg ha-1 at the end of the rainy season. Litter decomposition was faster inside the AFSs (k = -0.006 and T¹/² life = 107 days) when compared to the decomposition in the areas outside the SAFs (k = -0.001 and T¹/² life = 437 days). The high litter stocks and the high decomposition rate promote nutrient cycling and the maintenance of soil fertility in the Cerrado.