Vochysia guatemalensis Donn. Smith, an alternative species for reforestation on acid tropical soils

• Published in: New forests 2016-07, Vol.47 (4), p.497-512
• Main Authors: Camacho, Manuel E, Alfredo Alvarado, Jesús Fernández-Moya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acid soils; Acidic soils; aluminum; Biomedical and Life Sciences; boron; branches; calcium; chronosequences; copper; ecology; farmers; farming systems; Foliage; Forestry; income; Indigenous species; iron; leaves; Life Sciences; lowlands; magnesium; manganese; nitrogen; nitrogen content; Nutrient concentrations; nutrient content; Nutrient dynamics; Nutrition; Nutritional status; phosphorus; Plant species; potassium; Reforestation; Soils; Stems; timber production; time series analysis; toxicity; tree growth; trees; Tropical environments; tropical soils; Vochysia guatemalensis; zinc
• ISSN: 0169-4286; 1573-5095
• DOI: 10.1007/s11056-016-9527-7

Vochysia guatemalensis Donn. Smith is a native species commonly used in small-scale reforestation programs in Costa Rica recognized for its fast growth under acidic and unfertile soil conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the nutrient concentration dynamics on individual trees of V. guatemalensis of increasing ages, in order to improve the understanding some aspects of its ecology as well as management of this tree species. Nutrient (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and B) and Al concentration in stems, branches and foliage were measured using false time series (also known as chronosequences) in 13 different tree stands (2–21 years) found in the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica. N, K and S concentrations in the stems showed a significant inverse relationship with DBH; while P, S, and Cu foliar contents increased with DBH. Average foliar concentrations of N, Ca, K, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, B, and Al showed little or no variation with tree growth. Foliar Al concentration (21, 297–28, 826 mg kg⁻¹) was higher than previously reported as toxic for non-Al accumulating species (