Litter production in multistrata agroforestry system in Rondônia State, Brazil.
Corrêa F. L. de O., Ramos J. D., Gama-Rodrigues A. C. da, Müller M. W.
Author Affiliation: CEPLAC/SUPOC/ESTEX-OP, Cx. P. 07, 66 0000-000, Ouro Preto do Oeste, RO, Brazil.
Ciência e Agrotecnologia 30 : 1099-1105
Abstract : A study was conducted to evaluate litter production in different fruit coverings and forest components of a multistrata agroforestry system located in Ouro Preto do Oeste district, Brazil. The species studied include mango (Mangifera indica), breadfruit tree (Artocarpus altilis), cupuassu tree (Theobroma grandiflorum), avocado (Persea americana), and shaded cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao) with gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium). The forest species included bandarra (Schizolobium amazonicum) [Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum] and teak (Tectona grandis). An 8-year-old natural vegetation area was used as a reference. The annual litter production from October 2002 to September 2003 for natural vegetation, bandarra, gliricidia, avocado, breadfruit tree, cupuassu, cocoa, mango and teak were 13.38, 4021, 3.43, 2.861, 2.541, 1.401, 1.161, 1.121 and 1.07 tonne/ha, respectively. The natural vegetation, bandarra and cocoa tree presented higher deposition during the dry period (summer), while breadfruit tree, mango tree, teak and avocado tree, presented the highest deposition during the wet period (winter). The accumulated litter on the soil was 14.6, 12.8, 12.73, 12.01, 9.87, 9.88, 9.01 and 7.39 t/ha for mango, bandarra, natural vegetation, avocado, shaded cocoa with glicicidia, cupuassu, breadfruit tree and teak, respectively.