Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Conflicts concerning land use associated with fast wood plantations (FWP) in the tropics put social strain on relations between the plantation companies and rural populations. To support rural livelihoods where FWPs are present introduction of agroforestry at plantations could be favourable. This study analyses the growth response of eucalyptus hybrid clone of E. grandis and E. urophylla grown in commercial spacing with agricultural crops integrated in an agroforestry system during the first year of the stand rotation period at Veracel FWP in Bahia, Brazil. Ten different treatments, with one control treatment of conventionally grown eucalyptus hybrid clone, were grown in a randomized block trial of four blocks. The crops were sown and fertilized according to general recommendations for each different crop. Tree height, diameter and volume per hectare were measured at age 16 months. The results were analysed with ANOVA and Scott-Knott test yielding three different volume growth responses at confidence level 0.05. The Scott-Knott grouped the means of stand volume to three significantly different groups. All but one treatment had a significantly higher volume production per ha than control plots. The highest volume occurred where beans and sunflower was grown with eucalyptus hybrid clone; 41.8 percent higher than conventionally grown eucalyptus hybrid clone after the first 16 months. Thus wood production at eucalyptus plantations would not suffer adverse effects, but rather positive effects, by implementation of this type of agroforestry