PERFORMANCE OF TREE SPECIES USED ON THE RECLAMATION OF DEGRADED LANDS

Abstract

This study was carried out on the margins of the Rio Grande at Monte Alegre Farm, in Ribeirão Vermelho county, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The purpose of the study was to test 12 tree species for reclamation of an area degraded by the extraction of river bed sand. The experiment used 3,0 x 1,5 m spacing fo r testing 12 species distributed in a quinconx system. Soil fertilization varied in P leveles (100, 200, and 400g P/plant), chosen after soil chemical analyses. The source was simple super-phosphate. The statical design was randon blocks with a 12 x 3 design (12 species x 3 fertilizer levels), with a total of 36 treatments and 3 repetitions. The experiment contained 108 sample units. The interation species-fertilizer was not significant using treatment means. Two years after planting, the following was concluded: the degraded area is recovering, and the species are growing following the secondary succession pioneer, light-demanding climax and shade-tolerant species; preliminary observations indicated as most promising species Acacia mangium and Schinus terebinthifolius (survivorship in the field), Acacia mangium, (mean diameter at the ground level); and Schinus terebinthifolius, (crown area). These two species are thus recomended for the reclamation of areas degraded by extraction of river bed sand.