Deposition of Nutrients and Litter in Eucalyptus urophylla x E. globulus Plantation

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the deposition of nutrients and litter in Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus globulus stands, in the municipality of Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Four plots (20 m x 20 m) were systematically allocated and four 1 m(2) litter traps were installed in each plot. Litterfall was collected from the traps fortnightly between January 2006 and December 2010. Litter deposition increased proportionally to stand age: 6.9 Mg ha(-1) at six and 8.5 Mg ha(-1) at nine years of age. Leaf fraction represented 66.9% of the total litter on average, followed by twigs (14.7%), miscellaneous (10.5%), and thick branches (7.9%). Litter deposition showed seasonal behavior, increasing as the air temperature increased. The leaf fraction produced the highest nutrient release through litter, with average values of 58.2 and 81.8% for Cu and N, respectively.