Evaluación de la producción de hojarasca en cuatro tipos de coberturas vegetales en una zona alta de Nero

Abstract

Leaf litter plays a fundamental role in the maintenance and functioning of ecosystems by incorporating nutrients into the soil. The objective of the study was to evaluate the production of litterfall in four vegetation covers in an upland area of Nero. Different vegetation covers were studied: pine forest (BP), native forest (BN), grassland (PA) and pasture (PO). There were four plots per cover, and five traps or delimited areas of 0,33m2 and 1m2 were placed in each plot. Leaf litter was collected at an interval of 15 days for the tree cover for four months, while for the grassland and pasture cover it was at an interval of 45 days for three months. For the tree cover BN and BP, significant statistical differences were found and an average production of 1335 kg ha-1 and 2007 kg ha-1 was obtained, respectively, while for the PA and PO covers an average production of 876 kg ha-1 and 90 kg ha-1 was obtained. The major contributing fraction in litterfall in the BN and BP was the dominant leaf with an average of 757kg ha-1 and 1808 kg ha-1, respectively. The least contributing fraction was bark with an average of 19 kg ha-1 and miscellaneous with an average of 8 kg ha-1

in the BN and BP, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the type of vegetation cover and the amount of litter produced.