NATURAL REGENERATION IN DIFFERENT PERIODS OF ABANDONMENT OF AREAS AFTER THE EXTRACTION OF Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden IN RED-YELLOW ULTISOL ÁLIC, IN BRUSQUE, SANTA CATARINA STATE

Natural regeneration is one of the most appropriate techniques to promote the restoration of vegetation in degraded areas. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the composition and the structure of the tree and regenerative strata in three areas under natural regeneration, characterized by different ages after the removal of stands of Eucalyptus grandis. The study area is located in the basin of Itajai river in Brusque, SC state. Data collection was performed with the deployment of 56 sample units (AU) of 200 m² distributed along the banks of a watercourse in areas that had five periods (AT I), three (AT II) and one and a half (AT III) years of abandonment. In each AU, individuals living with PAP ≥ 5 cm and height greater than 1.3 m were sampled. To survey the regenerative stratum, it was demarcated a subunit of 20 m² within each AU of tree communities where the plants were sampled with height ≤ 1,30 m. The studied vegetation presented distinctions in structural values, showing a succession dynamics during the study period. The pioneering suffered decrease in number of species, both in the tree layer as the regenerative, while shade-tolerant climax species had recruitments along with the advancement of the age of abandoned areas. The number of plants for ecological groups showed more pronounced changes in the regeneration layer with the increased abandonment period of areas and pioneer species decreased while the demanding climax light increased in density.

Keyword:
composition; structure; restoration; riparian vegetation