Litter production and mineral element input to the forest floor in a Central Amazonian forest

Abstract

The study investigates the seasonal and element patterns of litterfall at two particular sites of "terra firme" forest in the central Amazon. The input of elements such as C, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, na, Zn, Fe, Al, Mn, B and Cu was thoroughly evaluated in terms of site variability, mass flow of organic compounds of various litter compartments and elemental return flow. The results were compared with recent studies on literfall in the humid tropics. © 1989 Kluwer Academic Publishers.