Abstract
Parts of the nitrogen cycle involving two dominants (Lithraea caustica and Quillaja saponaria) in the Chilean piedmont matorral have been studied over a 15-month period. Analyses showed that 8.2 kg N ha-1 yr-1 entered the system in rainfall and dry deposition, though impaction of N-containing compounds on vegetation (not measured) may elevate this value. L. caustica, by virtue of its greater percent cover, contributed more leaf litter than did Q. saponaria to the system (1089, vs 737 kg dry matter ha-1 yr-1, respectively), although on an individual basis Q. saponaria produced more litter (640, vs 350 g dry leaf litter m-2 yr-1 r L. caustica). This plus the greater nitrogen release of L. caustica leaf litter during decomposition (2.61, vs 0.60 g N kg dry litter-1 yr-1 for Q. saponaria) and Q. saponaria’s higher N-content of dropped leaves (0.54, vs 0.37% N for L. caustica) may indicate a more external cycling of nitrogen in Q. saponaria relative to that in L. caustica. These two species may therefore represent two different strategies of individual nitrogen cycling, external and internal.
Resumen
En el matorral premontano de Chile se estudiaron algunas partes del ciclo de nitrógeno de dos de sus dominantes (Lithraea caustica y Quillaria saponaria) durante 15 meses. Los análisis mostraron que los ingresos de nitrógeno por lluvia y deposición seca fueron de 8,5 kg N ha-1 año-1; este valor podría ser mayor si se considera el ingreso adicional por impactación de compuestos nitrogenados sobre la vegetación (no medido). Debido a su mayor cobertura porcentual, L. caustica contribuyó con mas hojarasca que Q. saponaria obteniendose valores de 1089 y 737 kg ha-1 materia seca año-1 respectivamente. Sin embargo, al considerar el area bajo los individuos, Q. saponaria produjo mas hojarasca que L. caustica (640 vs 350 g materia seca m-2 año-1. Durante la descomposición de la hojarasca, L. caustica liberó 2,61 g N kg-1 hojarasca seca año mientras que Q. saponaria liberó 0,60 g N kg-1 hojarasca seca año-1.
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© 1982 Martinus Nijhoff/Dr W. Junk Publishers, The Hague
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Cisternas, R.E., Yates, L.R. (1982). Nitrogen in litterfall and precipitation and its release during litter decomposition in the Chilean piedmont matorral. In: Robertson, G.P., Herrera, R., Rosswall, T. (eds) Nitrogen Cycling in Ecosystems of Latin America and the Caribbean. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7639-9_33
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7639-9_33
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