Rescue strategies for Xylopia sericea A.St.-Hil. plants from natural regeneration

Abstract

The objective of this study was to test different rescue strategies of Xylopia sericea plants from natural regeneration. Two experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design, in split-plots, with the first one consisting of four levels of shading (0 or full sun, 30, 50 and 70% of shading) and four substrates; and the second consisting of four levels of shading and three leaf reduction intensities (0, 50 and 100%). After 150 days from the rescue, the survival and increments in height and diameter were obtained. The general mean survival was 26.1% in the first experiment and 26.7% in the second one. In both experiments the plants in full sun resulted in 100% mortality, while the 70% shading showed to be more effective concerning the survival and in the growth resumption. It is recommended to use substrates whose mixture has at least 50% subsoil as one of its components. Overall, the results obtained by leaf reduction were not sufficient to justify and recommend this procedure, taking into account the increase of the process total costs.