This study evaluated the production of Inga laurina (Sw.) Willd seedlings in 110 and 280 cm 3 tube containers and growing doses (0, 3, 6 and 12 kg m-3) of controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) (15-09-12) and their performance at 5 and 12 months after outplanting. The experiment was conducted using a randomized split-plot design, in a 2 x 4 arrangement (tube volumes x CRF doses). Stabilized sewage sludge from urban origin was used as substrate. It was assessed growth and biomass of the seedlings in nursery, as well as survival and growth after outplanting. Containers of 280 cm 3 and doses between 6 to 12 kg m-3 produced seedlings in less time, with higher growth and biomass. At 12 months after outplanting, seedlings presented acceptable growth and mortality rate with doses equal or greater than 6 and 3 kg m-3 of CRF, respectively, for the 110 and 280 cm 3 tube.

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Soil organic matter (SOM) and the chemical attributes of the soil are important indicators of soil quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of strategies for controlling spontaneous plants on SOM quality and soil fertility in an area of forest under restoration. Three methods for controlling spontaneous plants were established: i) mechanical (MCH), ii) chemical (CHM), and iii) chemical-cultural (CC), and evaluated using a randomized block design. After 13 months, soil samples were collected (0-10 cm) to determine basal respiration over 21 days, total organic carbon (TOC), labile carbon (LC), chemical fractions of the SOM [humine (H), humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA)], and soil fertility. On days 1, 3, and 7, higher values were seen for basal soil respiration, however, no differences were found between the control strategies. There was a small change in SOM quality and soil fertility. MCH showed higher values (up to 11%) for LC, due to the intense silvicultural management. After 13 months of application, each of the strategies for controlling spontaneous vegetation proved to be favorable in relation to SOM quality and soil fertility, especially for LC, due to its relationship with the accumulation or loss of SOM, and immediate response to changes in land use or management.

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The study evaluated the ecology of soil invertebrate faunal communities in periodically flooded forest (CF) fragments and anthropic fields (AF) in the Atlantic Forest. The sampling occurred in the rainy and dry seasons using pitfall traps. We estimated the total activity, richness, diversity, and evenness as well as the activity of the taxonomic and functional groups. Total activity and richness varied as a function of seasonality. Entomobryomorpha, Poduromorpha, and Symphypleona were the most representative taxonomic groups. Enchytraeidae and Blattaria were exclusive to CF. Auchenorrhyncha, Chilopoda, Heteroptera, and Thysanoptera were exclusive to AF. The functional group of microphagous/saprophagous (M/S) showed the highest activity, independent of the environment and season. Greater dissimilarity was observed among the invertebrate fauna in AF when compared to CF. Periodically flooded areas favored groups from the saprophagous trophic guild, while AF areas favored predator and herbivore groups. Soil fauna present in forest environments presented less seasonal variability.

Context The Caatinga biome, located in the Brazilian semiarid region, has few remnants of riparian forest. Thus, it is essential to know the effectiveness of strategies aimed at forest recovery. Aims The objective of this study was to investigate the use of the epigeal fauna as a bioindicator tool of soil quality and ecosystem sustainability to determine the best native forest restoration strategy in the Caatinga in Belém do São Francisco, Pernambuco, Brazil. Methods In areas previously dominated by Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC., three treatments were installed: conventional planting of native species (P), planting of native species in islands (applied nucleation, N), and natural regeneration (NR). These restoration treatments were compared with an area of high P. juliflora dominance (PJ). Epigeal fauna were captured in two periods of the year (wet and dry seasons) using pitfall traps in a completely randomised design. We estimated the total abundance, richness, diversity, and evenness, as well as the trophic guilds of the epigeal fauna. Key results The epigeal fauna organisms were distributed in 22 taxonomic groups. The Saprophagous Diplopoda group was exclusive to PJ. The Predator Pseudocorpionida group was not observed in the NR area in any period. Cluster analysis revealed more dissimilarity of the NR with the other areas. Conclusions In the short term (less than 2 years), P increased the diversity and richness of the epigeal fauna and promoted better structuring of the Microphagous/Saprophagous (Entomobryomorpha, Poduromorpha, and Symphypleona) trophic guild, while NR promoted better structuring of the Herbivorous (Auchenorryhncha and Heteroptera) and Saprophagous/Predator (Formicidae and Coleoptera) trophic guilds. Implications In the short term, conventional planting benefited the epigeal fauna due to the high diversity of planted species.

A fauna epígea atua diretamente na ciclagem biogeoquímica, através da fragmentação da serapilheira. O objetivo deste estudo é associar o processo de fragmentação do folhedo de três diferentes espécimes de Paubrasilia echinata Lam (tratamentos PB1, PB2 e PB3) com os principais componentes da fauna epígea, em diferentes áreas do Jardim Botânico da Universidade Rural Federal do Rio de Janeiro em Seropédica, RJ. A técnica dos litterbags foi utilizada para avaliar a fragmentação do folhedo e as armadilhas pitfall para avaliar a fauna epígea. Para cada tratamento, utilizaram-se 21 litterbags, sendo recolhidos três destes em um período quinzenal de 210 dias e, cinco pitfalls por tratamento, coletados no período seco, período de transição e período chuvoso do ano 2016. Para todos os espécimes, a taxa de decomposição foi mais significativa nos primeiros dias de avaliação. O tratamento PB3 tem o maior tempo de meia-vida, com 338 dias. O grupo taxonômico Formicidae é o mais representativo em todos os tratamentos, tanto no período seco como no período de transição; no período chuvoso, Poduromorpha é o que apresenta a melhor abundância em todos os tratamentos. Estes resultados indicam que a frequência relativa dos organismos da fauna epígea é diretamente influenciada pelas condições climáticas.