Litter production and composition in a young pre-Andean Nothofagus glauca forest of Maule Region

Abstract

With the aim of advancing in the comprehension of Maulino forest functioning, the annual litter production and its specific composition in a young pre-Andean Maulino forest dominated by hualo (Nothofagus glauca) were estimated. For this, 30 litter traps of 0.25 m² were placed in three lines perpendicular to the slope on the floor of the forest. The litter was collected at variable intervals and separated into different components. During the three evaluated seasons, the annual mean production was 7.13 Mg ha^-1, of which 46 % was leaves and 21 % woody material. In two seasons, the other 33 % was separated into leaves of different species. Thirty-one species were found, 15 of them endemic and two introduced. Leaves abscission of hualo principally concentrated during the winter season, whereas leaf fall of companion perennial species occurred during the summer months.