Biomass, Mineral Accumulation, and Calcium Crystals in Trema micrantha (L.) Blume as a Function of Calcium Carbonate Addition

ABSTRACT

Trema micrantha (L.) Blume is a neotropical multipurpose tree species, which could be used in forest restoration and agroforestry. Several cultures, however, require liming to satisfactory yields in acid soils. Therefore, it is important to determine the effect of liming to this native species, in order to include it in agroforestry associations. The aim of this work was to evaluate the morphological changes of T. micrantha, including the calcium oxalate (druses) and cystolith density, as caused by the calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) addition. The assay included three treatments: control, pH 5.3; treatment 1, pH 5.5; treatment 2, pH 6.0. The liming reduced the root biomass and increased the shoot biomass. The leaf specific mass and nutrients concentration were not changed. The leaves presented higher density of druses in treatment 2. The cystolith density was not modified, but the cystolith size was increased by the liming. The results indicate liming tolerance in this species.

Keywords:

• Trema micrantha
• calcium oxalate crystals
• calcium carbonate crystals
• liming
• root biomass
• cystolith
• Ulmaceae
• druses

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To the financial support from FAPERGS (03/0592.0), to Leonir Terezinha Uhde (UNIJUÍ) for the method suggestions and soil chemical analysis aid. To Jorge Ernesto de Araujo Mariath (UFRGS) and Sandra Vincenci Fernandes (UNIJUÍ) for the critical review of the first version of this paper. To Leticia Lanius for the English review.