Avaliação da recuperação de área de Cerrado degradada por pastagens depois de uma década de intervenção com plantio de mudas de espécies nativas na região do Araguaia

Abstract

There is a high demand for the recovery of degraded areas in the Cerrado Biome. However, the effectiveness of recovery actions is not always satisfactory. In this context, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the recovery of a Cerrado area that was pasture and subsequently subjected to restoration by planting native species seedlings a decade ago. The evaluation is based on quality indicators, such as litter layer thickness, and problematic indicators, such as the persistence of Brachiaria grass. For this, 20 plots of 2 × 2 meters were marked, with 10 located in a native Cerrado area and 10 in the recovery area, with a minimum distance of 20 meters between each plot. In all plots, data were collected on Brachiaria coverage, canopy coverage, number of trees, and litter thickness. The comparison of all variables was performed using t-tests, which were employed to assess possible differences between the Cerrado and recovery plots. Significant differences were observed in Brachiaria coverage, with the absence of this plant in the Cerrado areas and values ranging from 5% to 100% in the recovery areas. Litter thickness showed significant variations, with an average of 15 millimeters more in the Cerrado plots compared to the recovery areas. However, no differences were found in the number of trees when comparing the Cerrado areas with the recovery areas. There was no significant difference in the number of trees between treatments, with approximately 1 tree per plot in the Cerrado areas and one tree every two plots in the recovery area. Despite this, the ecosystem processes that sustain the Cerrado, such as the possibility of nutrient cycling reduction facilitated by litter, are not yet fully established in the recovery areas. Additionally, the persistence of Brachiaria is a concern, as it may intensify the negative effects of fires and inhibit the development of young plants in the understory vegetation.