LONG-TERM RESPONSE OF THE HERBACEOUS STRATUM TO THE ADDITION OF ORGANOMINERAL RESIDUES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RECOVERY IN THE CERRADO

• Grant number: 24/04917-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Lucíola Santos Lannes
• Grantee: Roberto Carlos Leal Junior
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Ilha Solteira. Ilha Solteira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the Cerrado, intense environmental degradation driven by agricultural and industrial expansion requires the implementation of recovery practices to enhance the resilience of native regenerating species in the biome. As an approach to restore degraded areas, the application of residues, primarily destined for disposal, has been adopted. This strategy aims to improve soil conditions, mitigate environmental impacts, and enhance plant development. This research aims to analyze the influence of residues addition upon native and exotic invasive species. Therefore, the objectives of this study are (i) to identify herbaceous species in a degraded area, (ii) to assess the effect of different treatments and concentrations of residues on the diversity and similarity of communities, (iii) to evaluate the vegetative cover of herbaceous species in relation to different types of treatments and concentrations through aerial images, and (iv) to assess the effect of different residues and concentrations applied to native and exotic invasive functional groups. For this, an experiment settled in 2011 in Selvíria/MS will be used. It consists of an experimental design of 12 treatments with 3 replications, combining doses of 0, 16, and 32 t ha-1 of RO - organic residue (aquatic macrophytes) and 0, 15, 30, and 45 t ha-1 of RA - agroindustrial residue (sugarcane bagasse ash), resulting in 36 experimental plots of approximately 20 m x 22 m each (440 m2), with an experimental area of approximately 1.6 hectares. Vegetative cover measurements and floristic surveys will be conducted using the quadrat method associated to the Braun-Blanquet scale. Jaccard and Sorensen indices will be calculated to assess similarity, while dissimilarity indices will be used to calculate diversity among communities. To assess the effect of the fertilization types upon measured variables, Two-way ANOVAs will be applied, using the R software. Since the application of residues can favor the establishment of different functional groups, it is expected that the data obtained in this research can provide ecological recommendations for the efficient recovery of degraded areas.