Production and composition of litter from umbu tree genotypes

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the litter yield and the accumulated nutrient concentrations and amounts in the litter of umbu tree genotypes from different origins. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with 14 treatments, during the 2020-2021 season, using 13-year-old trees at the time. The genotypes BGU-44, BGU-45, BGU-47, BRS-48, BGU-50, BGU-75, BRS-68, EPAMIG-03, EPAMIG-04, EPAMIG-05, EPAMIG-06, EPAMIG-07, EPAMIG-09, and EPAMIG-13 were evaluated, with three replicates, each one composed of one plant per plot. Yields and accumulated nutrient concentrations and amounts in the litter varied between genotypes. The decreasing order of macronutrient concentrations in the litter was Ca>N>Mg>K>S>P, and of micronutrients and Na was Fe>B>Mn>Na>Zn>Cu. The accumulated amounts of nutrients are more associated with the litter yield of the genotypes than with nutrient concentrations, since the concentrations varied little. The genotypes BGU-61, EPAMIG-07 and EPAMIG-06 express the highest litter yield and the highest accumulated nutrient amounts, while EPAMIG-05, BGU-75, BGU-44, BGU-50, and BGU-45 show the lowest accumulated nutrient amounts.