Litter decomposition and nutrients dynamics in Nothofagus antarctica forests under silvopastoral use in Southern Patagonia

H BAHAMONTE; L PERI; R ALVAREZ; A BARNEIX; A MORETO; G MARTINEZ PASTUR

AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2012 p. 345 - 360

0167-4366

The rol of environmental variables on litter decomposition and its nutrient release in Nothofagus antarctica forest is poorly understood. Moreover, in these forests under silvopastoral use there are not antecedents in Patagonia. Litter decomposition and nutrient release of grass and tree leaves were evaluated in different crown cover and two site quality in these forests during 480 days. Organic matter decomposition varied with crown cover for both types of litter, achieving mean values of 23 and 34% for maximal and minimal crown cover, respectively. Total incident radiation was the main environmental factor explaining 61 and 49% of the variation of decay rates grass and tree leaves, respectively. N, P, and Ca were mineralized during first 60 days in tree leaves decomposing and then immobilized without differences between crown cover. The K was immobilized in all period. In grass decomposing the results varied with site quality and sampling date. However, there was a tendency to mineralization at the first 120 days and immobilization after that in all nutrients. The removal of trees for silvopastoral use of N. antarctica may increase litter decomposition, but not the nutrients dynamic indicating that for nutrients evaluated their chemical characteristics were more important.