Open AccessSTEMFLOW NUTRIENT INPUT IN TREES IN A TROPICAL FOREST IN PERNAMBUCO, BRAZIL
Author(s) -
Yasmim Yathiara Gomes Araújo Morais,
Fernando José Freire,
Rosival Barros de Andrade Lima,
Edilane Alice de Alcântara Assunção,
Shyrlaine Lilian Moura Leão,
Lidiayara Ralph
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
floresta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1982-4688
pISSN - 0015-3826
DOI - 10.5380/rf.v51i3.71464
Subject(s) - stemflow , throughfall , nutrient , precipitation , environmental science , ecosystem , forest ecology , hydrology (agriculture) , agroforestry , ecology , soil science , biology , geography , soil water , geology , geotechnical engineering , meteorology
Rainfall is the main source of water in forest ecosystems and stemflow is an important pathway for nutrients to enter these ecosystems. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate effective precipitation in a fragment of tropical forest and stemflow nutrient input of tree species in different periods of rainfall. Total precipitation and throughfall were measured using rain gauges inside and at the edge of the fragment. After a phytosociological survey, nine species with the highest absolute density in the fragment were chosen and three individuals were selected. Water collectors were fixed around their trunk to collect stemflow water. The stemflow water was measured in milliliters, and pH, electrical conductivity and the input of K, P and Na were determined. Based on the throughfall and stemflow, the effective precipitation was calculated. The stemflow nutrient input presented the following decreasing order: Na>K>P. The high input of Na can be explained by the fact that the fragment is close to the coastal area. Stemflow of forest species proved to be an important pathway for nutrients to enter forest ecosystems, effectively participating in nutrient cycling.