Litterfall deposition and nutrient return in pine-oak forests and scrublands in northeastern Mexico

Abstract

Litterfall and its decomposition represents the main nutrient input in forest soils whereby organic matter is cycled, thus influencing the circulation of nutrients in ecosystems. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine litterfall nutrient-input and deposition via fallen leaves. Litterfall was collected at three sites: 1) a pine-oak forest, 2) an ecotone in a transition zone between a pine-oak forest and a piedmont shrubland, and 3) a thorn scrub in the Tamaulipan thorn-scrub vegetation community. At each site, an experimental plot was selected to allocate ten litter canisters to collect litterfall. Total litterfall deposition was highest at the ecotone, followed by the thorn scrub and the pine-oak forest (hereupon, the pine-oak forest will be referred to as “pine forest” for simplicity) (706.0 g m-2 year-1, 495.6 g m-2 year-1, and 483.0 g m-2 year-1, respectively). Leaf litter abundance was greater than that of twigs, reproductive structures, or miscellaneous components (385.3 g m-2 year-1, 84.6 g m-2 year-1, 55.7 g m-2 year-1, and 35.8 g m-2 year-1, respectively). Total deposition of nutrients (mg m-2 year-1) varied as follows: Ca, from 3.7 (pine forest) to 13.5 (thorn scrub); K, from 1.0 (pine forest) to 3.8 (ecotone); Mg, from 0.5 (pine forest) to 1.3 (ecotone); N, from 2.7 (pine forest) to 8.3 (ecotone); P, from 0.1 (pine forest) to 0.3 (ecotone); Cu, from 1.0 (pine forest) to 2.9 (ecotone); Fe, from 35.2 (pine forest) to 89.3 (ecotone); Mn, from 27.7 (pine forest) to 71.8 (ecotone), and Zn from 7.3 (thorn scrub) to 7.8 (ecotone). Litterfall and nutrient input was more abundant during the months of winter than at any other time of the year.