Abstract
ABSTRACT Litter production and decomposition makes it possible to supply a good part of the nutrient demand of forest stands. Although several studies on this subject have been carried out in Pinus stands in different regions of Brazil, there are no records of studies carried out in the Northeast region, or in particular in the state of Bahia. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the litter production (litterfall) and decomposition in Pinus stands in the southwest region of Bahia, using an area of native forest as reference. Litterfall was evaluated during twelve months with the use of suspended collectors. Litter accumulation was quantified by means of three collections. The values obtained from litterfall were similar among Pinus stands. However, these values were lower than those found in the reference forest and in stands of the same genus in other regions of Brazil. Litter decomposition is relatively slow in Pinus sp. stands. The temporal variation of the litter supply is not very sensitive to the climate variations.
Highlights
The forestry sector in Brazil has grown in the last decades
According to the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária – EMBRAPA, 2014), the Pinus genus comprises more than 100 species with great potential for several purposes
When the data regarding the monthly litter production was correlated with the climatic variables, significant associations were only found between the branches fraction and the wind speed in the native forest; between the reproductive structures (RS) fraction with relative humidity in the native forest and in the Pinus in consortium; and with temperature in all forest ecosystems studied (Table 5). These results indicate that the largest deposition of the reproductive structures occurred during the period of lower temperatures and higher humidity
Summary
The forestry sector in Brazil has grown in the last decades. The progressive demand for products and by-products of forest origin such as oils, essences, and especially wood have provided a large increase in the number of reforestation areas with exotic fast-growing species (ABRAF, 2013). A typical example of this trend is the Pinus genus, the main source of raw material for several industries in the country, which has its most extensive plantations established in the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina, it is distributed in several other regions of the country, including the Northeast region (IBÁ, 2015). According to the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária – EMBRAPA, 2014), the Pinus genus comprises more than 100 species with great potential for several purposes. The main characteristics that have led to the wide use of this genus are wood quality, rusticity and tolerance, which enable its planting in soils which are marginal to agriculture (Chaves & Corrêa, 2005). In addition to the use of wood for various purposes, Pinus species excel in the production of resin used in glue, varnish, paint and adhesive industries (Medeiros et al, 2017)
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