Forms of humus in ecosystems of the intertropical coastal forest. Tabuleiros Atlantic Forest

Abstract

The Mata Atlantica ecosystems, located in the north part of Espirito Santo (Linhares) has two humus foons according to the forest type: Mata Alta Forest and Mussununga Forest. In the first case, humus is a mull-like fonn, and in the second, a moder-like humus is present. In the moder humus, 22t/ha corresponding to holorganic horizons- are superposed ou the A horizon, with 500kg/ha of organic nitrogen, while in the mull, this quantity reaches 6t/ha, with 100kg/ha of organic nitrogen. Below-ground pools -A horizon at 0-10cm depth- are similar in the two decomposition systems (10t/ha of organic carbon and700kg/ha of total nitrogen). A marked organic matter accumulation in Mussunnnga forest is essentially linked to the parental soil substrata with a limited clay fraction and very poor nutrieut content. Despite the factors detennining the humus fonns, which are simihlr to temperate forests, Mata Atlântica humus are differentiated by faster recycling of nutrieuts and a high organic-maner turnover.