REDUCING COMPETITION IN AGROFORESTRY BY PRUNING NATIVE TREES

Maria Luiza   Franceschi Nicodemo; Paula Priscila   Castiglioni; José Ricardo   Macedo Pezzopane; Patrícia   Tholon; Antônio   Aparecido Carpanezzi

REDUCING COMPETITION IN AGROFORESTRY BY PRUNING NATIVE TREES

Autores

Maria Luiza Franceschi Nicodemo

Paula Priscila Castiglioni

José Ricardo Macedo Pezzopane

Patrícia Tholon

Antônio Aparecido Carpanezzi

Editor

Universidade Federal de Viçosa

Descripción

The degree to which pruning helps reestablish balance in agroforestry was assessed in a system established in São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil, in 2008. Seven native tree species were planted at a density of 600 trees/ha in five strips of three rows each, and annual crops were cultivated in the 17-m crop strips between the tree strips. Competition was established after 35 months, decreasing the aboveground biomass production of corn planted close to the trees. An assessment of black oats in the dry season following tree pruning showed that the proximity of trees caused reductions in plant and panicle density, aboveground biomass production, number of grains per panicle and grain weight. Because pruning was not sufficient to maintain crop yields, tree thinning is recommended in order to minimize competition and restore conditions for adequate crop production.