SANCHEZ, Saray; CRESPO, G    HERNANDEZ, Marta. Study of litter decomposition in a pastureland of Panicum maximum Jacq cv. Likon. []. , 30, 4, pp. 0-0. ISSN 0864-0394.

A study was carried out at the Experimental Station of Pastures and Forages “Indio Hatuey”, Matanzas, with the objective of determining the litter decomposition of Panicum maximum and its relationship to some of the biotic and abiotic factors. The litter decomposition was determined as the loss of biomass in time, with regards to the initial weight. For the study of the decomposition dynamics the method of litter bags was used. The bags measured 10 x 10 x 10 cm, with pores of 1 cm diameter, which allows access inside of a wide range of the edaphic biota. Forty bags that contained litter of P. maximum were distributed randomly. In each bag 20 g of previously collected litter (dry base) were put. The results showed that the decomposition process of P. maximum litter was slow, because 210 days after being deposited the litter still showed 45,3% of its initial weight, with a higher decomposition rate in the first 30 days. In the remnant material of the process of litter decomposition, the N-NDF concentration increased. The taxonomic composition of the fauna associated to the decomposition process was constituted by three phyla, five classes, eight orders, seven genera and seven determined species. The presence of a diverse and stable fauna associated to the bags influenced the process of litter decomposition. The species Venezillo sp., Nagarus sp. and Pycnocelus surinamensis were the ones with higher presence during the whole process. The mathematical model that shows the effect of temperature, relative humidity and rainfall, showed the best adjustment in the process of litter decomposition in this pastureland.

: Climatic factors; litter; Panicum maximum; soil fauna.

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