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Litterfall and nutrients of three woody species planted in oil-disturbed and non-disturbed soils in the Amazon Basin
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  • JAIME VILLACIS,
  • Carlos Quiloango-Chimarro,
  • XAVIER PAREDES,
  • Mario Landívar
JAIME VILLACIS
Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Carlos Quiloango-Chimarro
Universidade de Sao Paulo Editora da Universidade de Sao Paulo
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XAVIER PAREDES
Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas
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Mario Landívar
Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas
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Abstract

This study aimed to assess the influence of oil-disturbed soils of the Ecuadorian Amazon on the biomass and nutrient production of three 6-year-old woody species. The investigation involved the placement of 9 traps of 0.25 m 2 in each permanent sampling plot (6 plots on disturbed soils and 2 on non-disturbed soils). The biomass was collected biweekly for one year. The collected samples were separated into leaves and branches and weighed, after which the amounts of nitrogen (N), carbon (C), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and sodium (Na) in the leaves and branches were determined. The results of the study showed that the specimens of the three species planted on non-disturbed soils produced similar amounts of litterfall, which amounted to 4.33±0.28 Mg ha -1 yr -1, as those planted on disturbed soils, which amounted to 4.66±0.24 Mg ha -1 yr -1. However, specimens of Zygia longifolia produced greater amounts of biomass, which amounted to 5.44±0.31 Mg ha -1 yr -1, than specimens of Piptadenia pteroclada, which amounted to 4.90±0.37 Mg ha -1 yr -1, and Platymiscium pinnatum, which amounted to 3.06±0.23 Mg ha -1 yr -1. The concentrations of macroelements N, Ca, and Mg were higher in the biomass of non-disturbed soils, whereas the concentrations of microelements Fe, Zn, and Mn were higher in the biomass of disturbed soils. Therefore, the use of these species in the Amazon forests is important to maintain biomass production and nutrients on disturbed soils, similar to non-disturbed soils.
Submitted to Land Degradation & Development
02 Jun 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
17 Nov 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
17 Nov 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major