Floresta e Ambiente (Mar 2020)

Litter Accumulation in a Eucalyptus grandis Plantation, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

  • Fernanda Dias dos Santos,
  • Roberta Aparecida Fantinel,
  • Camila Andrzejewski,
  • Elke Lima dos Santos,
  • Dayanna do Nascimento Machado,
  • Mauro Valdir Schumacher

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/2179-8087.110617
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 27, no. 1

Abstract

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Abstract This study aimed at quantifying the accumulation of litter in formative compartments (bark, branches, leaves, and miscellaneous) above the soil in a 23-year-old Eucalyptus grandis plantation, located on the campus of the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul. We installed four parallel plots on the settlement lines, measuring 3.0 m × 6.0 m. In order for litter collection, we utilized a 25 cm × 25 cm iron frame and randomly collected 15 samples of each plot, totaling 60 samples. The burlap consisted predominantly of branches (39%) and miscellaneous (29%) fraction, followed by leaves (23%) and bark (6%). Such accumulation may be associated with the age of the Eucalyptus grandis, the density of the forest, and the stability achieved by the plantation.

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