Efficiency of Cardboard Crowning on the Suppression of Invasive Alien Grasses

Fernando Gonçalves,Guilherme Montandon Chaer,Alexander Silva De Resende,Izar Aximoff

doi:10.1590/2179-8087-floram-2021-0021

Fernando Gonçalves, Guilherme Montandon Chaer + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2179-8087-floram-2021-0021

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Abstract

Invasive exotic grasses are among the biggest obstacles to the success of reforestation projects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the crowning with cardboard in suppressing the grasses Urochloa humidicola and Megathyrsus maximus aiming its use in reforestation areas. A field experiment was installed in a completely randomized design with two treatments consisted of crowning with cardboard and without crowning (control). The crowning with cardboard caused a progressive reduction of the biomass and was effective in causing senescence of both grasses in 80% or more of the crowning area between 20 and 50 days after the crowning (F test; p<0,05). These results demonstrate the effectiveness and potential of using the crowning with cardboard to control alien grass species in reforestation areas. This method brings as an innovation the possibility of placing cardboard directly on the grass after mowing, allowing greater simplicity and lower operating cost.

Highlights

AND OBJECTIVESThe main objective of planting natural forests in Brazil is to restore forest ecosystems, previously suppressed, in areas of permanent preservation and legal reserve of rural properties, as determined by the Brazilian Forest Code (Law 12.651, of May 25, 2012)
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the crowning with cardboard in suppressing the grasses Urochloa humidicola and Megathyrsus maximus aiming its use in reforestation areas
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the direct crowning with cardboard in the suppression of Urochloa humidicola and Megathyrsus maximus, two species of forage grasses usually found in reforestation areas in the Atlantic Forest biome

Summary

Introduction

The main objective of planting natural forests in Brazil is to restore forest ecosystems, previously suppressed, in areas of permanent preservation and legal reserve of rural properties, as determined by the Brazilian Forest Code (Law 12.651, of May 25, 2012). These areas are generally pasture areas, usually dominated by exotic grasses that are difficult to eliminate and replace with a biodiverse and multi-stratified forest vegetation (Dias et al, 2013).

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