Prior fertilization enables higher survival of relocated terricolous orchids?

Rogério Mamoru Suzuki,Monica Valéria Cachenco,Marina Crestana Guardia,Catarina Carvalho Nievola,Waldyr Baptista,Shoey Kanashiro,Nelson Augusto Dos Santos Junior,Vivian Tamaki,Janaina Pinheiro Costa,Yoshito Shidomi

doi:10.1590/2175-7860202172033

Abstract

Abstract The construction of highways causes several impacts on the environment, including, the suppression of vegetation, which can lead to reduced biodiversity. One mitigating measure involves reallocating plant to protected areas and orchids might be important for this use. An example could be the terricolous orchid Sauroglossum nitidum. In an attempt to optimize the survival of S. nitidum following reallocation, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the fertilization can increase the survival of this orchid. For this, five lots with ten plants per lot were randomly separated, with five plants submitted to soluble fertilization with NPK 10-52-10 (1 g.L-1), spraying each plant with 1 mL of the fertilizer, and the other five sprayed with the same volume of distilled water. This treatment was repeated fortnightly for two months before reallocation. The plants were relocated in September 2015 and monitored monthly until November 2016. Overall orchid survival was 92%. Additionally, flowering was observed to be significantly higher in fertilized plants. In conclusion, reallocation of S. nitidum with previous NPK fertilization is recommended.

Highlights

São Paulo, Brazil, is the 10th richest city on the planet and, in 2015, the population was estimated at more than 12 million, with more than 7.5 million vehicles
Study area The area used for the reallocation of orchids was located in the “Parque Estadual da Cantareira” (PEC), at the “Núcleo do Engordador”, which belongs to the Instituto Florestal of the State of São Paulo’s Environmental Department, with coordinates 23o24’37”S and 46°35’25”W
The percent survival (92%) demonstrated in the present study with S. nitidum is among the highest reported for orchid reallocation projects

Summary

Introduction

São Paulo, Brazil, is the 10th richest city on the planet and, in 2015, the population was estimated at more than 12 million, with more than 7.5 million vehicles. In 1998, in an attempt to relieve oversaturated traffic on the main avenues of the capital, the state government of São Paulo initiated the construction of the “Rodoanel Mário Covas” (a new highway around the periphery of the city). This highway encircles the city and covers 176.5 km, functioning as a hub linking the city of São Paulo to other localities within in the state and throughout the country. Created in 1962, the PEC spans 7,916.52 ha (Dantas 1990), is considered one of the largest urban forests in the world, representing one of the main forests remaining in the metropolitan region of São Paulo city. In an effort to mitigate potential alterations related to biodiversity, some types of plants, like orchids for example, have been removed from their native habitats and reallocated to protected areas (Jasper et al 2005)

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