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Polibotánica
Print version ISSN 1405-2768
Abstract
LOPEZ-HERNANDEZ, Juan Manuel et al. Litterfall and potential nutrient return in three sites of the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Polibotánica [online]. 2013, n.35, pp.41-64. ISSN 1405-2768.
The aims of the study were to estimate and quantify the monthly dynamics (January to December 2009) of litterfall deposition and macro (Ca, K, Mg, N y P) and microminerals (Cu, Fe, Mn, y Zn) of litterfall leaves in the counties Los Ramones, China y Linares, of Nuevo León State, México. The plant community is named as Tamaulipan Thornscrub. Annual deposition was 321.5 (Los Ramones), 431.6 (China) and 462.9 (Linares) g/m2/year. Leaves represented the highest component (154.4 to 304.5 g/m2/year) of total litterfall production. Branches varied from 48.25 to 75.16 g/m2/year. Reproductive structures from 58.4 to 98.9 g/m2/year and other components (unidentified material, bodies and insect feces) ranked from 19.9 to 29.2 g/m2/year. Annual deposition of Ca in the three sites varied from 3.4 to 8.1; K from 1.4 to 3.2; Mg from 0.76 to 1.6; N from 3.0 to 5.5 and P from 0.05 to 0.11 g/m2/year. Cu ranked from 0.84 to 2.8; Fe from 14.7 to 21.7; Mn from 5.5 to 11.8 and Zn from 3.3 to 5.2 mg/m2/year. In winter mineral deposition was higher. Moreover, the highest mineral deposition occurred in Linares and Los Ramones was the lowest. There were spatio-temporal variations in quantity of literfall collected and return of minerals, but not so in leaf quality between study sites.
Keywords : litterfall; minerals; Tamaulipan Thornscrub; Northeastern Mexico.