Restauração ecológica de uma área degradada através de técnicas de nucleação, Juiz de Fora, MG

Abstract

This thesis aims to evaluate the usage of a group of techniques for the restoration of degraded areas. The addition of native forest seeds inside a jute bag filled with substrate prepared originated the Jute Seed Bag technique. Two other methods are proposed to be applied with the Jute Seed Bags in order to avoid the competition of exotic grass species: the application of herbaceous forage seeds and the use of dried grass specimens to cover the soil around the bags. We conducted the experiment in an area of the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora that was infested with Melinis minutiflora. Three different treatments were applied, with five repetitions each, randomly distributed in fifteen parcels of 3x3 m. T1 treatment was characterized by two Juta Seed Bags side by side within the parcel. T2 treatment was represented by the direct seeding of 120 g of herbaceous forage along with the Jute Seed Bags. T3 treatment represented the application of dried grass specimens around the bags. Each Jute Seed Bag had 20 seeds of 5 pioneer native tree species within 24 kg of prepared earth. We analysed the seedlings emergence, survival, growth and estimation of the grass cover and after nine months we registered the emergence of 966 seedlings. The Anadenanthera peregrina species registered the best “emergencia” rate, 90.8%, while the other species were below 30%. On the other hand, three species, Anadenanthera peregrina, Pelthophorum dubium, Schinus terebinthifolius had survival rates above 90%, while Trema micrantha had 75% and Cecropia pachystachya, 65%. No significant implication aroused from the comparison of the different treatments, but the specimens with more than 30 cm was significantly different from those with less than 30 cm. This might mean that treatments T1 and T3 contributed for a more efficient plant growth. Therefore, the usage of allied methods represented by the Jute Seed Bag technique can improve the establishment of native plants.