Litter removal impacts on soil biodiversity and eucalypt plantation development in the seasonal tropics

Abstract The little layer of tree plantations provides primary nutrients for uptake, buffers changes in soil moisture, and habitat substrate to epigeic fauna. However, this eucalypt is often removed reduce fuel load during the fire season Brazilian savanna (Cerrado). Therefore, it necessary quantify effects litter dynamics on function these plantations, key nutrient cycling processes fauna diversity abundance. In two adjacent stands (one juvenile one mature), consequences years removal were quantified as monthly litterfall, leaf fine wood decomposition, abundance diversity, biogeochemical variables, diameter basal area increments. Monthly litterfall rates mature did not change with over study period. Annual ranged from 4.1 4.9 Mg ha ?1 a plots 3.9 4.8 control plots. Fine decomposition was slower compared controls, while similar both. Two stand affect topsoil parameters but decreased available phosphorus at 20–40 cm depth relative controls. stand, total cation exchange capacity (0–20 cm) higher controls (6.4 cmol c dm ?3 ) (6.3 ), moisture (0–40 depth) lower (25.45 m 3 (26 dry season. A non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination revealed an increased homogeneity where removed. Litterfall, increment, four physical fourteen chemical 0–20 explained differences composition between Diameter increment only which had reached its growth peak. results indicate that removing excess decrease volume can alter biodiversity edaphic conditions negatively growth.