Floodplain restoration on Itajaí-Açu river, Santa Catarina State, Brazil: survival and initial growth of tree species according to soil type

Abstract

The variation of soil attributes along with peculiarities of riverine ecosystem process, determines strong influence on the vegetation distribution in these environments.  The restoration strategies of riverine vegetation need to observe these peculiarities and, in this case, choosing of appropriate species is a key element to initiate the process of establishment of a functional community. The present study aimed at to evaluate the survival  and initial growth of nine tree species in different plantation densities and in two soil types - Neossolo Flúvico (RY) and Cambissolo Flúvico (CY). Field experiments were conduced on Itajaí-Açu floodplain,  Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil. The species that showed better performance to promote the restoration in fluvial environment, in a RY soil type, under a semi-hydromorphic condition in the soil profile, with high level of fertility and submitted to recurrent inundation pulses, were: C. myrianthum, A. glandulosa, I. marginata, S. terebinthifolius and A.sericea. A. cacans is a promising species to the same areas but only under conditions of no permanent flooding.

doi: 10.4336/2010.pfb.30.63.171