Influence of spatial variability of soil chemical attributes on the nutritional status and growth of the rubber tree

The productive potential of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is dependent on its genetic composition, in addition to edaphoclimatic factors and management practices. However, as soil properties are not homogenous, knowing the spatial variability of soil attributes would be important to increase productivity and reduce production costs. In this context, the objective of this study was to determine the spatial variability of chemical attributes of the soil and its influence on the nutritional status and growth of rubber tree clones. Clones FX 3864, FDR 5788, CDC 312, and RRIM 600 were planted at Jaturnaíba Farm, in the municipality of Silva Jardim, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The sampling sites were distributed at a spacing of 20 × 20 m on the northern and southern sides of the relief. The chemical attributes of the soil (pH, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, P, Al3+, H+Al, sum of bases, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation) were evaluated at a depth of 0­20 cm in the different clone plantations. Additionally, the N, P, K, Ca, and Mg content as well as trunk circumference and total plant height, were also evaluated. Geostatistics was used to determine the spatial variability of the soil and clone attributes, while Ordinary Kriging was used to draw variability maps of the variables. A difference in the distribution of the variables, which was dependent on the slope of the relief, was detected through the maps. The southern side presented better conditions as some degradation was observed on the northern side. Certain soil characteristics influenced the distribution of the attributes of the planted clones; for example, the low concentration of Ca2+ in the soil caused Ca deficiency in the FX clone on the southern slope, indicating that liming did not supply enough nutrients for this clone. Our results showed that the variability in soil attributes influenced the nutritional status and growth of the rubber tree clones, indicating that variability maps can guide the planting and management of the rubber tree, providing more efficient management.

Ciclagem de nutrientes em diferentes estádios sucessionais da Mata Atlântica na bacia do rio Paraíba do Sul, RJ / Nutrient cycling in different successional stages of forest atlantic in river basin sul Paraíba, RJ

Em ecossistemas florestais, o aporte e decomposição da serapilheira constituem o principal meio de transferência de nutrientes para o solo, sendo de grande importância para a sustentabilidade desses sistemas. Contudo, ainda são incipientes os estudos sobre a influência de estágios de sucessão na dinâmica da ciclagem de nutrientes em florestas secundárias, principalmente as localizadas em áreas de relevo movimentado, onde concentram-se grande parte dos fragmentos da Mata Atlântica na região sudeste do Brasil. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a ciclagem de nutrientes em diferentes estágios de sucessão de uma Floresta Estacional Semidecidual Submontana, por meio da estimativa da deposição mensal e anual de serapilheira, do aporte de nutrientes e da taxa de decomposição do material foliar. Foram selecionadas três áreas com diferentes estádios sucessionais, localizadas em Pinheiral, RJ: floresta em estádio inicial (FEI), floresta em estádio médio (FEM) e floresta em estádio avançado (FEA). A produção de serapilheira foi avaliada mensalmente durante um ano (abril/2009 a março/2010) por meio de coletores cônicos de 0,21m2. A serapilheira foi seca, estratificada nas frações folhas, ramos, materiais reprodutivos e outras (frações não identificáveis), e pesada. Foram determinados os teores dos macronutrientes N, P, K, Ca e Mg para a serapilheira produzida. A decomposição do material foliar foi avaliada durante 120 dias, utilizando-se sacolas de decomposição. A deposição anual de serapilheira foi estimada em 7,47 Mg ha-1 na FEI; 8,96 Mg ha-1 na FEM e 14,7 Mg ha-1 na FEA, com a fração foliar representando, respectivamente, 86,4%, 80,7% e 66,1% do total aportado. Os teores e conteúdos de nutrientes, de maneira geral, foram menores na FEI, intermediários na FEM e maiores na FEA. A serapilheira se mostrou como uma importante via de transferência de N e Ca para o solo, destacando-se o N na FEA e o Ca na FEM e FEI. O tempo de meia vida para a FEA foi de 151 dias, seguido pela FEM (217 dias) e FEI (315 dias), observando-se na FEA maiores taxas de decomposição durante todo o período do estudo. Os resultados desse estudo evidenciaram que a idade sucessional afetou a quantidade total de nutrientes produzidos via serapilheira, função da complexidade estrutural em termos de aumento de riqueza de espécies vegetais e área basal. Desta forma, é possível supor que, desde que existam condições favoráveis tais como fontes de propágulos e dispersores, a sucessão florestal secundária, em áreas de relevo acidentado e com solos de baixa fertilidade natural, condicionará a formação de uma floresta nutricionalmente sustentável.

In forest ecosystems, the contribution and decomposition of litterfall are the primary means of transferring nutrients to the soil, being of great importance for the sustainability of these systems. However, studies about the influence of succesional stages in the dynamics of nutrient cycling in secondary forests are scarce, especially those located in relief irregular, where are concentrated much of the Atlantic Forest fragments in southeastern Brazil. This work aimed to study the cycling of nutrients in different successional stages of submontane semideciduous seasonal forest, through of monthly and annual litterfall production, by nutrient availability and the rate of decomposition of leaf material. We studied three areas with different successional stages, located in Pinheiral, RJ: forest in initial stage (FIS), forest in intermediate stage (FINS) and forest in advanced stage (FAS). The litter production was evaluated monthly for one year (April/2009 to March/2010) through conical collector 0,21m2. The litter collected was dried and stratified into leaves, branches, and other reproductive materials (fractions unidentifiable) and weighed. Subsequently, the material was homogenized and N, P, K, Ca and Mg concentrations were determined . The decomposition of leaf material was evaluated for 120 days using litter bags. It was found annual litter of 7.47 Mg ha-1 in FIS, 8.96 Mg ha-1 in FINS and 14.7 Mg ha-1 in FAS, with the leaf fraction representing, respectively, 86.4%, 80.7% and 66.1% of the total contributed. Concentration and content of nutrients, in general, were less in FIS, intermediate in FINS and higher in FAS. The litter was shown to be an important route of transfer of N and Ca to the soil, especially N in FAS and Ca in FINS and FEI. The half-life in FAS was 151 days, followed FINS (217 days) and FIS (315 days), observing the FAS greater loss of material throughout the study period. Ours results showed that the successional age affected the total amount of nutrients produced via litter, according to the structural complexity in terms of increase of plant species richness and basal area. Thereby, one can expect that, provided there are favorable conditions such as sources of propagules and dispersers, secondary forest succession in areas of relief irregular and with low fertility soils, condition the formation of a nutritionally sustainable forest.