Litter Production in an Area of Amazonian Terra Firme Forest. Part I.Litter - fall, Organic carbon and total Nitrogen Contents of Litter').

Abstract

In 1963 anð, L964 litter was collected in a terra firme forest near Manaus, oven-dried and shipped to Europè. The sampleswere subdivided intofour litterfractions (leaves, wood,'fruits, termite fraction), dried at 105o and weighed. Organic carbon and total nitrogen of these litter fractions were determined. Annual average litter production is 7.4 t/ha consisting in 5.6 t ofleaves, and 1.8 t ofother litter. 105,6 kg nitrogen return annually to the soil. Compared with data on litter production and nitrogen content of litter of other tropical forests, the Amazonian forest produces less litter and returns a lower amount of nitrogen to the soil