Growth of Different Fruit Tree Species in Silvopastoral Systems During the Establishment Phase

Abstract

-The benefits of integrating agricultural components into silvopastoral systems are widely known, but the limited knowledge about ecological processes in the establishment phase impedes the use of this technology. The objective of this study was to evaluate interactions between fruit tree species and the sward layer under canopies of trees in the establishment phase of silvopastoral systems in Mato Grosso, Brazil. The experiment was implemented in October 2013, with an evaluation period from January to July 2015. The systems were composed of eight fruit trees intercropped with Tifton 85 grass. A completely randomized block design was adopted, with two replications per area per treatment. We evaluated the agronomic performance of the fruit trees, the categories of the light environment, and the plant accumulation under the canopies. The acerola fruit trees of the variety Roxinha had higher Leaf area index (LAI) and Light interception (LI) values, showing a denser canopy with small porosity and the lowest light quality available to the plants beneath the canopy (lower red/far-red ratio), thereby decreasing plant accumulation under trees. The guava fruit trees showed higher growth rates than the other fruit trees, but lower LAI and LI values and a higher red/far-red ratio, allowing higher plant growth under the canopy. Cajá trees showed a similar behavior; however, this species is deciduous, which limits its potential use in integrated systems. Banana and coconut trees were highly dependent on irrigation during the dry season. The remaining species showed an adequate growth and potential to control plant species growth under their canopies.Keywords: Plant competition. Intercropping. Light environment. CRESCIMENTO DE ESPÉCIES DE ÁRVORES FRUTÍFERAS DIFERENTES EM SISTEMAS SILVIPASTORIL DURANTE A FASE DE ESTABELECIMENTORESUMO -Os benefícios de integrar os componentes agrícolas já são bastante conhecidos, porém o conhecimento sobre os processos ecológicos da competição das plantas ainda é uma barreira para essa tecnologia. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a interação entre espécies fruteiras e a vegetação sob suas copas na fase de estabelecimento de sistemas silvipastoris no Mato Grosso, Brasil. O experimento foi implantado em 2013 e avaliado em 2015. Estes sistemas foram compostos por oito espécies de fruteiras consorciadas com Tifton-85. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos completos casualizados com duas repetições de área por tratamento. Foi avaliado o desempenho agronômico das espécies fruteiras, caracterização do ambiente luminoso e o acumulo de material vegetal sob as copas. A aceroleira Roxinha apresentou os maiores valores de índice de área foliar (IAF) e interceptação luminosa (IL) devido a um dossel mais denso com baixa porosidade e a menor qualidade de luz disponível sob as copas das árvores (menor relação vermelho/vermelho distante -V/Vd), condicionando a uma redução no acúmulo de material vegetal sob as copas. As goiabeiras cresceram mais do que as outras espécies, contudo apresentaram os ...

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