NUTRIENTS' CONCENTRATION AND ACCUMULATION IN TEAK STANDS IN THE STATE OF MATO GROSSO, BRAZIL

The knowledge of plant nutrition is very important for fertilizer practices. The aim of this investigation was to estimate the concentrations and accumulations of nutrients in teak trees of different ages located at Nossa Senhora do Livramento, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. From September 2008 to August 2009 wood litter collectors of 0.64 cm² were installed 30 cm above soil surface to collect litter material from plants in five, six and seven year old stands. Every 30 days the litter contents were manually collected and separated in three fractions: leaves, branches and miscellaneous (barks, flowers and fruits). Each fraction was dried and then weighted and chemically analyzed. The order of nutrients stocks in the leaves was Ca> N> Mg> K> P> S, in the branches was N> Ca> K> Mg> S> P, and in the miscellany was N > Ca> K> Mg> P> S. The order of nutrients magnitude in the fractions was leaves> branches> miscellany. The order of concentration for nutrients and accumulation for plants was the same in all ages, that is, Ca> N> K> Mg> P> S.

Tectona grandis; litter; macronutrients