Phytosociology, monthly output and water retention of the litterfall in fragment of Atlantic Forest: Sao Pedro da Serra/RJ/Fitossociologia, producao mensal e retencao hidrica da serrapilheira em fragmento de Mata Atlantica: Sao Pedro da Serra/RJ

• Published in: Revista geográfica acadêmica Vol. 5; no. 1; p. 118
• Main Authors: Santos da Costa, Karla Karina, Silva, Gisele, Rocha Santos Soutelo Salgado, Jamile Constanca, Freire Allemao Bertolino, Ana Valeria, Monteiro de Barros, Ana Angelica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidade Federal de Goias 01.01.2011
• Subjects: Agriculture; Environmental law; Environmental protection; Laws, regulations and rules
• ISSN: 1678-7226; 1678-7226

In Sao Pedro da Serra, district of Nova Friburgo/RJ, local farmers have been replacing the slash-and-burn cultivation agriculture because of current environmental laws. Moreover, the establishment of the Environmental Protection Area in Macae de Cima imposed restrictions on the traditional agriculture practicese of the region. This paper aims at evaluating the phytosociological structure of three successional stages (Slash-and-burn I/4-7 years, Slash-and-burn II/10-12 years and Forest 50-70 years), the litterfall monthly production and its water holding capacity to investigate the sustainability of this agricultural practice. The structure of the arboreal component was determined by the delineation of three plots in each system, totaling 480 [m.sup.2]. In each area, all individuals were mapped by the DBH (diameter at breast height, or 1,3m of soil) to ≥ 5cm. To quantify the monthly litterfall production, five collectors of 0,50 [m.sup.2] were placed in each system(Proctor, 1983). Five seasonal samples were collected so that water holding capacity was measured And to measure the water retention capacity, seasonal five samples were collected in each system, with a square iron of 0.25 [m.sup.2] (Vallejo, 1982). Seven different species in the PO I and PO II with the same dominant species (Machaerium stipitatum) were found, varying only in their representation in each system with 35% and 69% respectively. In the forest, Rubiaceae family presented highest number of individuals (54.3%). Concerning the exclusive species of each area, there were Croton floribundus in PO I, Solanum Argenteum in PO II and Guapira opposita in forest. As for water retention in the fall, the forest presented the highest retention rate, being followed by POII (26,52%) and POI (20,38%) The winter season shows the system POII (48.02%) with higher retention, followed by FL (38.46%) and POI (25.59%). The monthly output, FL showed the highest rate (19.77 g), followed by POI (14.99 g) and POII (10g). Regarding litter, it can be seen a different behavior that can be further defined by the completion of phytosociological studies.