Litter Biomass and Carbon Stock in a Mature Eucalyptus Stand in Southern Brazil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66069/ojspub.26820707Keywords:
Eucalyptus, Litter biomass, Carbon stock, Nutrient cycling, Forest plantationAbstract
This study quantified litter biomass and carbon (C) stock in a ~25‑year‑old Eucalyptus stand in Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Samples were collected from 30 random points (25×25 cm frame), separated into branch, leaf, and miscellaneous fractions, dried at 70 °C for 72 h, and weighed. Total accumulated litter reached 14.66 Mg ha⁻¹, with branches (7.28 Mg ha⁻¹) being the most representative, followed by miscellaneous (5.31) and leaves (2.06); total C stock was 7.33 Mg ha⁻¹. The accumulation pattern reflects stand maturity and highlights the litter layer's potential for soil C increment through decomposition, reinforcing the role of forest plantations in climate change mitigation.
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