Preliminary data on nutrient release from decomposing leaf litter in a Neotropical rain forest

Abstract

The release of nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na) from decomposing leaves during the dry season in a neotropical seasonal evergreen rain forest near Manaus, State of Amazonas, Brasil was measured estimating the nutrient amounts in leaf litter in June and November 1970, and of leaf fall in between. The following amounts in kg/ha/dry season were released: 162.2 N, 4.7 P, 18.9 K, 41.5 Ca, 11.9 Mg, and 9.4 Na. The results cannot be used for extrapolation of the nutrient release over the whole year, as no estimates were made in the rainy season