This research was aimed to evaluate the concentration of 15 chemical elements as a reference base for the quality of the litter in a forest in the central region of the Amazon. The sampling of the litter was performed monthly in two topographic positions for one year. For the quantification of the elements, digestion by nitroperchloric solution and reading by ICP OES were performed. The mean of macronutrient contents in the litter in decreasing order were Ca>K>Mg>Na. For micronutrients, the order was Al>Mn>Fe>Sr>Zn>Cu>Ba>Cr>Ni>Co>Cd for the Plateau and Al>Mn>Fe Sr>Zn>Cu>Ba>Cr>Ni>Cd>Co for the Baixio. Among the fractions, calcium had its highest concentration in the woody material, potassium in the reproductive material, while magnesium, sodium, and aluminum showed higher concentrations in the leaf fraction. Also, it was observed that the return of the elements to the soil by litter was greater in the dry period of the region, due to the greater fall in plant material. Calcium differed significantly within the same area, obtaining the highest concentrations compared to the other elements, while aluminum and zinc differed significantly between the areas studied, with a higher return for both elements on the Plateau.
Keywords:
elements; litter; reference values; natural forest
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