Growth of two forest pioneer species, pau-de-balsa (Ochroma lagopus Sw.) e caroba (Jacaranda copaia D. Don), used for rehabilitation of degraded areas from agriculture in Central Amazon, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of experiment was study the growth of pioneer forest species pau-de-balsa (Ochroma lagopus) and caroba (Jacaranda copaia) to rehabilitate degraded areas from agriculture. The experiment carried out at Br-174, km 120. After the use for cassava and banana plantations the area was abandoned for 8 years. The secondary forest that took place was of low height and sparse trees. The experiment was installed at may/98 and composed by harrowed and no harrowed areas. The seedlings were planted in 3 x 3 m spacing, in 20 cm diameter by 30 cm deep holes, with 150g of fertilizer NPK (4-16-8) and dolomite limestone in the proportion 3:1. To evaluation the growth were measured the height and diameter in july/98 and each year, approximately (June/99, September/00 and May/01). The data were obtained from planted species comparing harrowed and no harrowed areas in a full random design. The survival of pau-de-balsa, was greater in harrowed area (97,1%) in relation to no harrowed area (92,5%) after one year of planting; and the survival of caroba, was 90% after one year of planting and showed no difference when compared the harrowed and no harrowed areas. The height and diameter of pau-de-balsa were greater in harrowed area after one year of planting, reaching 11.85 m and 11.42 cm, respectively. The differences occurred in caroba trees after the second year of planting, and reached, in the third year, 8.37 m of high and 11,18 cm in diameter. Besides other factors inherent to the species, the more friable soil of the harrowed area, facilitated higher growth to two studied species.

Ochroma lagopus; Jacaranda copaia; degraded area; Amazon; Brazil