Litter production in the Nothofagus forests of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Abstract

Differences in the amount of litter-fall in arboreal species constitute an important factor to understand the nutrient cycle inside a managed forest. The objective was to determine the litter production in Nothofaguspumilio (lenga), N. antarctica (ñire) and N. betuloides (guindo) forests in Tierra del Fuego. Litters was collected during the period of highest fall (February-May), sorting its components into leaves, branches, seeds and miscellaneous (flowers, valves, etc.). Leaves represented the most important component, being significantly higher in lenga (79%) than in guindo (65%) or ñire (54%). Seeds also presented bigger differences, showing a behaviour inversely proportional to that of leaves: ñire (8.7%), guindo (3.0%) and lenga (0.8%). No difference was detected in branches and miscellaneous. The studied forest types showed different strategies of energy distribution, for example, being deciduous or evergreen, or of mass seed production in exceptional years.