The present work was conducted out in São Francisco de Paula National Forest, located in the municipality of São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, at ca. 29º24' to 29º27'S and 50º22' to 50º25'W and the maximum altitude of 923m. The objective of this work was to avaluate the production, accumlation and decomposition of litter in a Araucaria angustifolia forest in south Brazil. The forest presented numerous specimens of Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze, Blepharocalyx salicifolius (H.B. & K.) Berg, Ilex paraguariensis A.St.Hil., Tabebuia umbellata (Sond.) Sandwith and diferents species of the genera Ocotea and Nectandra. The litter fall was evalueted through monthly collections employing 15 litter traps (0.80×1m) per hectare, during two years. The accumulated litter in the forest was evaluated through monthly collections in three points. The litter decomposition rate was defined by the quocient between the total annual litter production and the total litter accumulated. The annual production of litter was estimated at 10.305,88kg/ha/year, and the accumulated litter in the forest average 14.296,00kg/ha. It was necessary 316 days to decompose 50% of litter, and decomposition rate corresponded to K = 0,86.
araucaria forest; Araucaria angustifolia; national forest; litterfall; decomposition
