Nutrient dynamics during the decomposition process of litterfall at the Tamaluipan thorn scrub

Abstract

The Tamaulipan thorn scrub consists of trees and shrubs that produce large amounts of litterfall, essential for soil and nutrient cycling, which is complex to understand. The main objective of this work was to determine the contents of Ca, K, P, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn during the process of litterfall degradation and its dynamics were compared in two seasons. Litterfall was sampled 15 days before each season and was left in the field for decomposition (10 g), using the nylon bag technique during the winter and spring seasons. The decomposition rate (k, gg^-1∙year^-1) during the winter and spring was 0.002 and 0.003, respectively. During the winter season, Ca and P registered an accumulation trend of 34.7 and 0.32 mgg^-1, respectively; K and Mg released 7.2 and 0.3 mgg^-1, respectively; Cu released 1.0 μgg^-1; Fe and Mn increased 402.8 and 7.9 μgg^-1, respectively; Zn exhibited an accumulation of 0.04 µgg^-1. During the spring season, Ca exhibited an accumulation of 10.93 mgg^-1, and the P content was 0.7 mgg^-1. As in the winter season, the minerals that showed a release pattern were K (6.3 mgg^-1) and Mg (0.49 mgg^-1). With respect to Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn, an accumulation trend was observed at a rate of 2.7, 446.3, 6.3 and 16.1 μgg^-1, respectively.