The objective of this study was to evaluate the relation between the chemical composition of litter accumulation and its effect on the physics and fertility of soil in two plantation systems of native forest species. The plantation systems consisted of 22 year-old mixed stand and pure stands of six hardwood species (Peltogyne angustiflora, Centrolobium robustum, Arapatiella psilophylla, Sclerolobium chrysophyllum, Cordia trichotoma, Macrolobium latifolium) native to the southeastern region of Bahia, Brazil, evaluated from August 1994 through November 1996. As a reference for the characteristic analyzed, the study included a secondary forest near climax, and a 40 year-old naturally regenerated forest. The soil of the 0-5 cm upper layer was better structured in the mixed stand than in the other forest systems. This layer's soil structure was positively influenced by litter mass and organic carbon. Soil fertility (0-10 cm upper layer) was higher in the planted stands than in the regenerating and secondary forests. The litter mass and its nutritional quality revealed differences in the capacity the various types of forest had in nutrient uptak and cycling. The mixed stand had an intermediate position in relation to the pure and natural forest stands. The litter decay rate was regulated by its quality. The results of this study indicate that the soil structure and fertility level under forest could be affected by litter nutritional quality and its decay rate. The mixed stand of forests species seemed to be the best plantation system, as it increases soil organic matter and fertility level and improve soil structure.
tropical forests; plantation systems; native tree mixed-stands; nutrient cycling; litter decomposition; soil structure and fertility