Development of a micro-planning tool for forest plantations through the consolidation of economic and sustainability indicators (Forest Decision Tree - Geplant)

• Grant number: 18/26418-5
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: September 01, 2019
• End date: July 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering - Forestry
• Principal Investigator: José Henrique Tertulino Rocha
• Grantee: José Henrique Tertulino Rocha
• Company: Geplant Tecnologia Florestal Ltda
• CNAE: Produção florestal - florestas plantadas ; Atividades de apoio à produção florestal
• City: Piracicaba
• Associated researchers: Marcos Augusto Ananias Dassan ; Mariana Vandromel Rodrigues
• Associated research grant(s): 20/06395-0 - Silvicultural sustainability management methodology: SNC - Soil, Nutrient and Carbon, AP.PIPE
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/22463-9 - Database development for USLE parameterization and validation, BP.TT; 19/20675-9 - Development of a micro-planning tool for forest plantations through the consolidation of economic and sustainability indicators (Forest Decision Tree - Geplant), BP.PIPE

Abstract

The forest residue management, soil preparation and fertilizer application are well studied topics and are closely interconnected. Despite that close relationship, these steps are treated independently within the forest enterprises and there is no solution in the market which integrates these steps to optimize the use of fertilizers and the sustainability of forest plantations. Our goal with this project is to develop a tool to generate indicators and information to decision make, taking into consideration economic and sustainability aspects and congregate soil and water conservation, nutritional balance and biomass production of forest plantations. With this, help in the micro-planning of forest residues exploration, soil preparation and fertilizer application, aiming sustainable exploration of forest residues, reduction of soil losses, and optimization of fertilizers use. Thus, to integrate decision making regarding the three silvicultural steps that most impact the sustainability and the cost of forest formation (i.e., forest residue management, soil preparation and fertilizer application) and generate an indicator of silvicultural sustainability to forest plantations. The impact of forest residue management and soil preparation on soil loss will be estimated using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). In this way, the main scientific challenge to be overcome during this project will be the USLE parameterization and validation for each possible forest management, using soil loss data available in the literature. The USLE will also be validated at the catchments level, using data from experimental catchments which have the water flow and quality monitored. After the USLE validation it will be possible to predict the risk to soil and water conservation for each possible forest residue management and soil preparation, bringing security in decision making to the forest manager. We also hoped to develop a fertilization recommendation system calibrated for each possible forest residue management. In addition to the micro-planning tool, soil and water loss information and nutritional balance will be compiled into a silvicultural sustainability indicator. This indicator can be used for certification programs, for management improvement, and also to give credibility to the business. Thus, in phase 1 of the PIPE, we aim to develop the concept and create a usable prototype of a micro-planning platform, as well as to compile the information into a sustainability indicator. Moreover, validate the business model with potential customers. For this, the Customer Development methodology will be used to validate the Business Model Canvas of the project. e believed that this platform is applicable to both large enterprises and independent forest growers. Brazil has 10 million hectares of planted forests and we believe that this is the initial horizon of application of this platform. In addition, this product can be applied to forest plantations in foreign countries which practice the Brazilian management model, such as Uruguay, Chile, Argentina and South Africa. Once developed the platform, it will be adaptable for crops, which would increase by more than 5 times the market. (AU)