Dynamics of litter stock and nutrients under clonal eucalyptus plantations

The objectives of this work were: to estimate the amount of phytomass and nutrients stored in the accumulated litter; to evaluate the seasonal variability of the amount of phytomass and nutrients in the accumulated litter and to estimate the decomposition rates of accumulated litter throughout the year. The work was conducted in Itatinga-SP. The experiment was an outline of subdivided plots. The plots were composed of 8 clones and one stallion planting, being subplots areas where thinning and non - roughing areas were performed. In order to estimate the accumulated litter, collections were made in each season of the year, between June 2015 and June 2016. After the evaluations it was concluded that there was a pattern of litter accumulation associated with the seasons, with higher values in spring and summer. The most representative leaf fraction was the amount of litter accumulated on the soil. Values of total litter accumulation were close between genetic materials. The decomposition was slightly higher in the thinned areas compared to the thinned areas. The decreasing sequence of the contents in the fractions was: Leaves> Branches> Bark> Other materials> Vegetable remains. As for the elements the sequence was: N> Ca> Mg> K> P.