Nutrient distribution between the forest vegetation and the soil on remnants of Atlantic Forest

Abstract

The development and auto sustainability of a exuberant forest such as tropical forests generally growing on soils of low fertility always puzzled scientists. They recognized this as a highly complex system based on nutrient cycling and on the diversity of fauna and flora. In order to have a better understanding of the relationship forest vegetation versus soil of remnant Atlantic Forest, the present study aimed to characterize physical and chemical properties of the soil, evaluate the nutrient distribution in different depths, determine the amount of nutrients in the forest soil and to determine possible influence of the soil on the litter or vice-verse. The results revealed a sharp decrease in the levels of Ca, Mg, P and K in the soil in relation to the depth. The amount of these nutrients in the foliar biomass were not influenced by the total amount present in the litter or in the soil. The content of the same nutrients found in the foliar biomass and litter were not related to their concentration in the soil.