WATER STORAGE IN THE LITTER OF SUCCESSIONAL FOREST ECOSYSTEMS IN THE COASTAL PLAIN AND RIVER PLAIN OF THE LOW CAPIM/GUAMÁ RIVER, EASTERN AMAZON
River Plain; Litter; Water storage; litter stock
The forests of Eastern Amazon form large forest mosaics because they are going through successional stages due to biotic and abiotic factors, the successional forests of river plains and those of interfluvial plateaus have similar characteristics and the litter is common in both. With this context, the question elaborated was (1) Which ecosystem had the greatest water storage capacity? With hypothesis (h) If, the successional river plain forest ecosystem presented larger than the successional forest of interfluvial plateaus, then it has a greater water storage capacity in the litter than the successional forest of interfluvial plateaus. The study was carried out in plots distributed in the Demonstration Unit of Alternative Use of Lowland Areas (UD-Várzea) and forests in the successional stage adjacent to the ICA. Each ecosystem with 12 plots with averages of 10 x 100m, with the aid of a metallic collector (0.25 x0.25m) were collected 72 subsamples giving rise to 24 samples in two distinct periods, less rainy and more rainy. In the parcels, a phytosociological analysis was made (Dap>15cm) and the evaluated analyzes were: litter storage (Mg.ha-1), water storage capacity (%). The design applied was the Entirely Casualized 2x2. It was expected that the water storage capacity in the litter sampled in the river plains successional forest ecosystem presents values higher than that of the interfluvial plateau successional forest, especially in the rainiest period.