Contribution of Pseudobombax aff. petropolitanum to Nutrient Cycling in Woody Vegetation from a Neotropical Inselberg

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate Pseudobombax aff. petropolitanum (PP) contribution on annual fine litterfall, carbon content, and nutrient concentration, compared to other woody species (OS) on a neotropical inselberg in Espírito Santo state, Brazil. Annual fine litterfall was systematic monthly collected (November 2011-October 2012) by means of 15 littertraps (0.25 m2) placed in five transects, oven-dried (65 °C, 72 h), weighed, and C content and nutrients concentration (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) were estimated. PP performed lower litterfall, C content, and nutrient concentration excepting higher K concentration, compared to OS. The results suggested that PP performed higher nutrient conservation, which indicated its potential in restoring degraded areas observed in the inselberg.