Abstract

VILLAVICENCIO-ENRIQUEZ, Luis. Production, weight loss and descomposition rates of leaf litter in traditional and rustic coffee systems and medium tropical forest in Veracruz, Mexico. Rev. Chapingo ser. cienc. for. ambient [online]. 2012, vol.18, n.2, pp.159-173. ISSN 2007-4018.  https://doi.org/10.5154/r.rchscfa/2010.08.049.

A study was conducted to analyze production, mass loss and decomposition rates of leaf litter in agroforestry plots with traditional coffee system (TCS), rustic coffee system (RCS) and medium tropical forest (mtf), in San Miguel, Veracruz, Mexico. In each system, three quadrants were randomly established (1000 m²). The collection of leaf litter produced by the canopy was performed every 15 days, during a calendar year. Leaf litter decomposition was evaluated in litterbags containing 10 g (dry weight) of the dominant species and a representative mixture per system. Litterbags were collected on seven dates during 352 days. The decomposition rate (k) was high for Piper hispidum and leaf litter in RCS, in all sampling dates, indicating a possible effect of microclimate or quality of leaf litter. The lowest k values were obtained in Robinsonella mirandae/Coffea arabica and Mastichodendron capirii, in TCS and mtf. The rest of the leaf litter showed average rates of decomposition; Robinsonella mirandae showed no differences among systems. The study demonstrates the importance of leaf litter quality and production, and the environmental factors in the decomposition of the study systems.

Keywords : Agroforestry; forest ecology; organic matter decomposition; primary production.

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