Abstract

AVILA BELLO, Carlos H.  and  ZAMORA MORENO, Paulina. Litter and organic matter production in marginal traditional coffee agroecosystems in Ocotal Chico, Veracruz. Polibotánica [online]. 2010, n.30, pp.69-87. ISSN 1405-2768.

Traditional coffee agroecosystems play an important role in the conservation of natural resources because of their complex vegetation structure. However, the coffee crisis has provoked tremendous changes in these agroecosystems, like their transformation to rangelands, affecting litter production and nutrient recycling. The objective of this study was to learn about litter production, its components and the general characteristics of soils in marginal traditional coffee agroecosystems in Ocotal Chico, Veracruz, within the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve. Nine coffee agroecosystems were selected along an altitudinal gradient between 500 to 900 meters above sea level [phrase moved]; in sites of 400 m2 each, four traps of 1m2 were placed in the most representative points, chosen visually. Samples were taken every 28 days throughout one year. The litter components were divided into leaves, branches, flowers and flowering parts, seeds, fruits and dead insects. In three coffee agroecosystems a soil profile was made in order to determine in the lab [three words deleted] the levels of N, P, Ca, Mg, CEC, pH and the percentage of organic matter. Results show that litter production and its various components, as well as organic matter, are greater in coffee agroecosystems established in deciduous forest than those located in sub-perennial rain forest and tropical rain forest. Soils are oxisoils with low to medium CEC and N values, high clay content and acid pH.

Keywords : marginal coffee agroecosystems; litter; organic matter; altitudinal gradient; Los Tuxtlas; Veracruz.

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