Influence of polymer hydrogel in ecological recovery of latosol covered with brachiaria in the savannah (Cerrado)

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the survival of seedlings of native forest species from the Cerrado biome (savannah), planted in a pasture, and evaluate the natural regeneration process. The study was part of a reforestation and forest restoration project and involved a hydrogel polymer. We planted 1,980 seedlings of 11 species. The post-planting mortality was 7.2% in the polymer compared to 6.3% in the area without this product and was not statistically different. After 17 months of planting,mortality was 43.7% in the area with the polymer versus 55.1% in the control area and was significantlydifferent from each other. In relation to natural regeneration, we found 130 individuals of 13 species and nine botanical families. The Fabaceae was the most abundant family, representing 38.4% of the species.The floristic diversity was 1.60 nats.indv-1 and evenness of 0.62. The floristic similarity between thenatural regeneration and the seedling planting was 7.6%, with Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão being the only common species. Use of the hydrogel polymer has been considered effective to promote the survival of the species, but the isolation area and the control of the Urochloa brizantha have become evident to the success of the reforestation and forest restoration project.