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Nutrient dynamics of a Puerto Rican subtropical dry forest

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Ariel E. Lugo  and
Peter G. Murphy
Ariel E. Lugo
Affiliation:
Institute of Tropical Forestry, Southern Forest Experiment Station, USDA Forest Service, PO Box AQ Rio Piedras, PR 00928, Puerto Rico
Peter G. Murphy
Affiliation:
Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
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Abstract

The distribution of the nutrients N, P and K in soil and vegetation and their mobility through litterfall and decomposition in mature and successional stands of a subtropical dry forest were studied in Guánica, Puerto Rico. Soils of the Guánica forest have high total amounts of N (9100 kg/ha), P (1820 kg/ha), and K (7460 kg/ha). However, high extractable Ca (>4000 mg/g) and pH (> 7–8) may explain why only 1.3 and 25% of the total P and K, respectively, were extractable. Total ecosystem storage of N, P and K was 10,300, 1900 and 7700 kg/ha, respectively, of which vegetation stored only 10, 2 and 3%, respectively. Litterfall returned 26, 18 and 180% per year of the N, P and K stored in the ground litter compartment. Trees retranslocated about 30 and 65% of the N and P required to satisfy aboveground net primary production and immobilized P in dead roots. Slow leaf decomposition (7.3 yr for 95% decomposition) released K faster than mass, P as fast as mass, and ash and N slower than mass. The use efficiency of P by litterfall was high compared with other tropical forests, while that of N and K was similar to other tropical and temperate forests. Cutting and regrowth of vegetation resulted in differences in the nutrient concentration in litterfall and nutrient use efficiency of successional vegetation.

Extracto

Se estudió la distributión de los nutrientes N, P y K en suelos y vegetación y su mobilidad en la caída y descomposición de hojarasca en rodales maduros y sucesionales del bosque subtropical seco en Guánica, Puerto Rico. Los suelos almacenan altas cantidades de N (9100 kg/ha), P (1820 kg/ha), y K (7460). Altas cantidades de Ca extractable (> 4000 mg/g) y alto pH (> 7–8) explican porqué solamente el 1.3 y 25% del total de P y K, respectivamente eran extractables. El almacenaje total de N, P y K en el ecosistema fue 10,300, 1900 y 7700 kg/ha, respectivamente, del cual la vegetación almacenaba el 10, 2 y 3%, respectivamente. La caída de hojarasca retornó el 26, 18 y 180%/año del N, P y K almacenado en la hojarasca del bosque. Los arboles retranslocaron alrededor del 30 y 65% del N y P requerido para satisfacer la producción primaria neta sobre tierra e inmobilizaron el P en las raíces muertas. La descomposición lenta de hojas (7.3 años para el 95% de la descomposición liberó K más rápidamente que masa, P tan rápidamente como masa y ceniza y N más lentamente que masa. La eficiencia de uso de P por la caída de hojarasca fue alta al compararse con otros bosques tropicales, mientras que de N y K fue similar a la de otros bosques tropicales y templados. La tala y recrecimiento de vegetación resultó en diferencias en la concentratión de nutrientes en la hojarasca y en la eficiencia de uso de nutrientes de la vegetación sucesional.

Keywords

biosphere reservedry forestsnitrogennutrient cyclingphosphoruspotassiumPuerto Ricosoil chemistrysubtropical forests
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 2 , Issue 1 , February 1986 , pp. 55 - 72
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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