Abstract

GOMEZ-ROMERO, Mariela et al. Testing of pine especies for restoration of degraded sites. Agrociencia [online]. 2012, vol.46, n.8, pp.795-807. ISSN 2521-9766.

In conditions of extreme soil loss, ecological restoration programs are required to optimize the establishment of vegetation and soil protection. A first step is to select species that can tolerate the conditions of degraded sites through species trials. In order to restore severely eroded sites with the presence of gullies in Atécuaro, municipality of Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico, we established a study of species with Pinus cembroides, P. greggii, P. devoniana and P. pseudostrobus. There were three slope conditions: control (0-5°), mild (5°-30°) and strong (>30°); in addition, there were three fertilization treatments (potassium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, diammonium phosphate and a control). The experimental design was of randomized complete blocks with split plots and species planted in Latin square. Statistical analysis consisted of analysis of variance and the statistical model was simplified by removing non-significant terms for all response variables. Variables were survival, height and diameter from 2005 to 2011 and analyzed chlorophyll at the end of the trial. Pinus cembroides was the species of longer survival (81 %) but lower growth (76 cm); P. pseudostrobus showed lower survival (38 %) (p<0.0001) and P. devoniana 80 % survival. Pinus greggii recorded greater growth (332 cm) (p<0.0001) and responded to fertilization with diammonium phosphate, increasing the levels of chlorophyll a, b and total. Result analysis suggests that a mixed plantation of P. devoniana and P. greggii (P. pseudostrobus only slope > 30°) may be the best option to restore such sites. Pinus greggii (exotic to the study area) can be used in early stages of restoration to create favorable microsites for the establishment of endemic species such as P. devoniana, creating a cover to minimize erosion.

Keywords : degraded soils; revegetation; tepetate; survival; chlorophyll.

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