Comparative analysis (from 1 year) of active restoration techniques involving direct seeding and tree seedling

• Grant number: 23/01325-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: August 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues
• Grantee: Marina Antunes Manço Ribeiro
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/18416-2 - Understanding restored forests for benefiting people and nature - NewFor, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The high degradation of ecosystems causes multiple impacts in relation to climate variables, biodiversity, human well-being, among other aspects. From this perspective, ecological restoration is the best cost-effective solution and, therefore, the UN has defined this as the Decade of Restoration. Given the current prominence of the subject, scientifically testing, within restoration methods, the most cost-effective techniques becomes an extremely relevant initiative, especially in the Atlantic Forest biome, given the great historical degradation and the bold goals of ecological restoration in this area. biome. Thus, this project aims to test active restoration techniques in relation to field establishment, combining direct sowing and planting of seedlings, in consortium with green manure, considering both ecological indicators of success. The experiment is going to implemented in an area belonging to the campus of the "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture/USP, at Piracicaba (SP). In this project, four treatments were defined in relation to active restoration techniques, which include: I) Direct sowing through muvuca, II) Direct sowing in rows, III) Planting of seedlings in rows IV) Direct sowing of cover and planting of diversity seedlings, in addition to the control group (C). Treatments II, III, IV, consist of planting in rows, which will be interspersed with species from the functional groups cover and diversity. For each technique, two competitor control methodologies will be implemented, called experimental procedures (A: through the application of glyphosate and B: combination of Glyphosate and Esplanade herbicides). Thus, each experimental plot will have four replications, plus 4 plots of control group, thus totaling 36 experimental units. In each plot, ecological indicators will be measured (germination, mortality, development, % occupation of grasses, etc.) at 30, 60, 90, 180 and 270 days after implantation for the evaluation of the plots. Therefore, through such descriptors, the project will present which active ecological restoration technique has the best field effectiveness in restoring degraded areas of the Atlantic Forest biome, which should favor future ecological restoration initiatives.