Biomass and nutrient dynamics associated with slash fires in neotropical dry forests
- Kauffman, J. Boone
- Sanford Jr., Robert L.
- Cummings, Dian L.
- Salcedo, I. H.
- Sampaio, E. V. S. B.
DOIAbstract
Unprecedented rates of deforestation and biomass burning in tropical dry forests are dramatically influencing biogeochemical cycles, resulting in resource depletion, declines in biodiversity, and atmospheric pollution. We quantified the effects of defores- tation and varying levels of slash-fire severity on nutrient losses and redistribution in a second-growth tropical dry forest ("Caatinga") near Serra Talhada, Pernambuco, Brazil. Total aboveground biomass prior to burning was 74 Mg/ha. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were highest in litter, leaves attached to slash, and fine wood debris (<0.64 cm diameter). While these components comprised only 30% of the prefire aboveground biomass, they accounted for -60% of the aboveground pools...
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