Document: RIC-3-99-133

Nutrient fluxes model in a Mexican rain forest.

LEÓN-RICO, R.*, C.PEREZ-CASTILLO and J.ALVAREZ SANCHEZ

Universidad Nacional Autnoma de México 04510 México 1

Abstract:
A model was developed from empirical data obtained in "Los Tuxtlas" Rainforest located at Veracruz Southeastern, Mexico. We measured during eighteen months, the following parameters: 1) Total litterfall under mature canopy; 2) Litterfall interception by the foliage of Astrocaryum mexicanum, an understorey palm that cover sixteen per cent of the total plots area and taking into consideration the palm overlapping the cover summarizes almost one hundred per cent of the total area; 3) Storage litter on soil surface; 4) Storage litter above the palm foliage; 5) Two decomposition cycles in each both storages, soil litter and palm foliage litter; 6) Nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus content in all litterfall and litter fractions. Total biomass litterfall production was 2.206-Mg ha-1 yr-1. Above ten per cent of total litterfall was intercepted by the palm foliage. Litter in the palm foliage only partially decomposed compared to after it fell to the soil. Decomposition is faster on litter soil than in the palm foliage; and palm litter was less than expected in litter on the soil surface. In all the litter and litterfall fractions we found similar quantities of carbon (around 19%), nitrogen (1.6%) and phosphorus (0.2%). This suggests that mineralization rates of these nutrients and litter quality was spatially homogeneous, at least in the places where the palm was a dominant species in the community structure plant.

Keywords: litterfall

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MICROBIAL ECOLOGY