Impacts of the management of spontaneous plants on soil microorganisms in plantations of forest restoration

• Grant number: 19/03077-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2019
• End date: March 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Patrícia Andrea Monquero
• Grantee: Fernando Martins Parré
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Araras , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of agrochemicals on soil and litter microorganism communities, which are essential for nutrient cycling, one of the key ecosystem functions for ecosystem restoration processes in forest restoration plantations. The study will be carried out in an experimental area with restoration planting, with 20 tree species, spaced 2.0 m x 3.0 m in a forest fragment, located in. This area implanted in 2016 is divided into two treatments of spontaneous plants: with mechanical control of weeds (brushcutter) and area with chemical control of weeds (with periodic use of glyphosate and clethodim). To analyze the activity and quantity of the microorganisms present in the soil will be carried out the analysis of basal respiration of the soil and total microbial biomass. The diversity of soil microorganisms will be quantified through real-time PCR (Qpcr). Through the analysis of variance, with the data of the indicators, it will be verified if there is difference between the treatments of the submitted areas and not submitted to the chemical or mechanical control of spontaneous plants. Also, during the 8 months, 20 bags containing local litter will be collected in each treatment, so that it is possible to calculate the decomposition rate of the litter. A total of 18 soil samples and 5 litter samples will be collected in a forest fragment during the 8 months, so that it is possible to buy the results obtained from the restoration planting with a forest fragment. We expect that in areas with mechanical control of spontaneous plants there should be a higher rate of decomposition, higher activity, biomass and diversity of microorganisms in the soil compared to the areas that receive chemical treatment, and the areas that underwent mechanical management will present data closer to the fragment area. Thus, we will understand the functioning and progress of the forest restoration system in the medium term and possible indirect consequences from the control of invasive grasses.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PARRE, FERNANDO M.; LOIOLA, PRISCILLA P.; BALLARIN, CAIO S.; MONQUERO, PATRICIA A.. Impact of invasive plant management on soil activity and litter decomposition in a tropical forest restoration. RESTORATION ECOLOGY, v. 31, n. 5, p. 7-pg., 2023-04-12. (19/03077-0)