The expansion of silviculture in Brazil, and the consequent intensive practices for soil preparation with high demand for fertilizers require sustainable nutrient management of forest sites. The objective of this study was to quantify the biomass and the micronutrient stocks of a 60-month-old Eucalyptus dunnii stand established in Alegrete, Rio Grande do Sul. The stand was established in a Rhodic Paleudult soil with low fertility and texture varying between sandy loam and sandy-clay loam. For the sampling of stand biomass, twelve trees were harvested, sectioned at ground level, and subsequently fractionated into the components roots, leaves, branches, stembark and stemwood to determine the dry mass and micronutrient content. The total biomass of the stand was 67.49 Mg ha^-1, with mass allocation in descending order from: stem wood > root > bark > branches > leaves. Total micronutrient stocks for boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) were 562.57, 401.46, 9913.28, 31877.82, and 766.96 g ha^-1, respectively. In addition, we found greater accumulation of Zn in the wood, high Mn accumulation especially in the bark, and high Fe content in the roots. Therefore, based on these micronutrient levels and their allocation between biomass fractions, we emphasize that the practice of retaining forest residues on-site after harvest is essential for forest nutrition through nutrient cycling and for soil conservation and fertility.

In a forest stand, litterfall is primarily responsible for the retention and return of nutrients to the soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the return of nutrients through litterfall in a stand of Eucalyptus dunnii in a Pampa biome. For quantification of litterfall, four 420-m² installments were marked; within each one, four 0.50-m² collection plots were distributed. For the collection of thick branches, four 7.00-m² sub-plots were staked out. The collected litterfall was separated into leaf, twig, thick branch, and miscellany fractions for subsequent chemical analysis. The total litterfall measured was 6.99 Mg ha^-1 yr^-1, and comprised 61.57% leaves, 17.34% twigs, 13.83% thick branches, and 7.26% miscellany. The total amount of macronutrients in the litterfall was 160.22 kg ha^-1 yr-1, and the macronutrient transfer order was the same for the leaf, twig, and thick branch fractions (Ca > N > K > Mg > S > P). The total quantity of micronutrients was 7.55 kg ha^-1 yr^-1, and the transfer order was Mn > Fe > B > Zn > Cu. Maintaining litterfall on the site, especially in degraded or low fertility soils like in the Pampa biome, may contribute to possible improvements in soil characteristics.

Estudos relacionados à produção de biomassa e acúmulo de nutrientes são a base para a compreensão da dinâmica nutricional em povoamentos florestais. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi quantificar a biomassa e o estoque de nutrientes, em um povoamento de Eucalyptus dunnii, aos 60 meses de idade, estabelecido em Alegrete, Rio Grande do Sul. A amostragem da biomassa foi realizada a partir de doze árvores, que foram seccionadas ao nível do solo e a biomassa foi fracionada nos componentes: folhas, galhos, casca do tronco e madeira do tronco, com determinação de massa seca e tores de nutrientes. A biomassa total acima do solo foi de 58,76 Mg ha-1, com sequência decrescente de alocação em madeira do tronco > casca do tronco > galhos > folhas. O estoque total de nutrientes foi de 175,5; 18,2; 171; 278,1; 69,1 e 21,5 kg ha-1 de N, P, K, Ca, Mg e S, respectivamente. Ressalta-se a importância da manutenção de resíduos da colheita sobre o solo, a fim de otimizar a ciclagem de nutrientes em função dos altos teores destes contidos nas folhas, casca e galhos.

Determining the period of weed coexistence with eucalyptus stands assists in the integrated management of weed competition, which reduces the application of herbicides, economic costs, and environmental damage. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to evaluate the impact of a hybrid stand of Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla trees on biomass production, the concentration and stock of macro and micronutrients, and the efficiency of nutrient utilization under different periods of coexistence with weeds. Our study is the first to report the impacts of weed management on the biomass and nutrients present in the leaves, branches, stembark, and stemwood at the time of mid-rotation (4.5 years old). The experiment was carried out in southern Brazil in the Pampa biome and followed a randomized block design, with three replications. The treatments consisted of increasing periods of coexistence with or control of weeds. The total biomass in the coexistence up to 378 days treatment was 53.7 Mg ha⁻¹, and in the control treatment up to 168 days, it was 81.4 Mg ha⁻¹, differing statistically. This reduction was in the order of 34%. The continuous presence of weeds led to a significant reduction in the production of wood and total biomass. The highest nutrient utilization efficiency (NUE) was observed for wood. The control of weeds for up to 168 days promoted greater productivity than controlling weeds for 378 days. This recommendation can be adopted by plantation managers for this region, reducing the amount of herbicide applied on the stand.